DAP must hold fresh re-election, prove transparency - Hishammuddin

DAP should hold a re-election of the party's Central Executive Committee (CEC) as directed by the Registrar of Societies (RoS) to prove that they have nothing to hide, said UMNO vice-president Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein.

He said if DAP truly upholds principles of democracy and integrity, then the party should listen to the voices of the grassroots as this is what the grassroots want.

"If there's nothing wrong and there are no irregularities why are they so afraid to have a re-election. If there's nothing to hide, hold the re-election immediately, " he told reporters after the simultaneous opening of Cheras UMNO Youth, Wanita and Puteri delegates' conference here on Sunday.

Hishammuddin said the DAP should also not point fingers at Barisan Nasional (BN) and UMNO as the cause of their problems.

"This is an internal problem, the matter was brought by the DAP members themselves and was raised long ago but their leaders chose to remain silent," he said.

Meanwhile in Teluk Intan, Gerakan president Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong said the DAP's defiance towards RoS' directive and their refusal to admit their own mistakes showed the party's arrogance.

He said by refusing to abide by the law, it also showed the party's lack of transparency.

"DAP should comply with the RoS' directives to hold a re-election. They should not think they are special and above the law and the same goes to other political parties.

"After this, they are going to take this opportunity to hit at the government. Instead of making lots of complaints, they should take a hard look at themselves," he said.

Mah, who is also Teluk Intan Member of Parliament said this when met at an Aidilfitri gathering which was attended by about 2,000 people, here yesterday.

In George Town, Penang UMNO Liaison Committee chairman Datuk Seri Zainal Abidin Osman said the issue arising from the CEC re-election was a reflection of the party's top leaders incompetency in discharging their responsibilities.

Zainal Abidin said the DAP should not accuse RoS of trying to sabotage the party as the party's CEC re-election was long overdue as the 2013-2016 term had expired and postponed for 18 months.

"ROS' decision is based on the provisions of the DAP Constitution and if DAP is dissatisfied with the decision, they can bring the matter to the Court," he said in a statement here on .

"Guan Eng can still be re-appointed as DAP secretary-general because this re-election is to ensure that the second term appointment is legitimate as the appointment of the previous CEC members was illegal," he said.

Meanwhile in TEMERLOH Umno Supreme Council member who is also Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani said UMNO too faced the same situation at one time and the party had to abide by the regulations set by RoS.

"We have to go by the rules. No matter who is wrong or right or if there had been a miscommunication we should straighten things out," he said.

"So let them meet up with RoS, at least they will learn why their meetings are not valid," he told reporters after opening the Temerloh UMNO Wanita, Youth and Puteri delegates' conference at Dewan Sri Mentakab here on Sunday.

Yesterday, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the DAP would seek a meeting with RoS on its directive for the party to hold fresh re-election for its CEC members, once the party received an official letter.

Lim, who is also Penang Chief Minister said the party had already conducted a re-election of its CEC members in September 2013 and the election results were submitted to RoS in November 2013, and as such the issue of re-election did not arise.

On Friday, RoS director- general Datuk Mohammad Razin Abdullah in a statement said that the DAP would not be deregistered but it must hold a fresh re-election for its 20 central executive committee (CEC) following complaints by some party members claiming manipulation in the polls. - BERNAMA