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DAP sets up Support, Sympathy & Solidarity Committee For Karpal Singh

Press Conference Statement
by Lim Guan Eng

(Petaling Jaya, Thursday): This is the outcome of DAP Central Executive Committee at its second meeting last night. 

The DAP condemns the unfair, undemocratic and abuse of the brute majority by BN in Parliament to suspend DAP National Chairman and MP for Bukit Gelugor Karpal Singh for 6 months should he not apologise for misleading the Dewan Rakyat by questioning the oath-taking of BN MPs who did not raise their hands. DAP maintains that there was nothing wrong in questioning the necessity of raising hands in oath-taking when this is the normal practice in or outside courts.

 

To waste parliamentary time and take action to deny a MP from carrying out his duty is an abuse of the brute 9/10 majority of BN used to silence legitimate dissent and prevent the functioning of democracy. The CEC maintains that Karpal did not mislead the House. He has admitted to quoting the wrong Act but the intention was to ensure that the validity of the oath-taking be upheld.

 

To suspend a MP for 6 months without pay if he does not apologise and suspend him for 10 days even if Karpal does apologise is a vindictive act and personal revenge that has no place in a parliamentary democracy.

 

Karpal Singh has been unfairly punished even though he has not cheated a single cent, not committed corrupt practice nor harmed anyone. Recently an UMNO MP has been convicted by his party of money politics and had his membership suspended. No one can understand why BN is willing to use its brute majority to punish Karpal who has done no public harm and not take any action against the UMNO MP for corrupt practice.

 

Does BN considers it a crime for opposition MPs who try to uphold the validity of an oath-taking exercise whilst there is no wrong nor crime in MPs who cheat or commit corrupt practice? DAP objects against such selective persecution and double-standards.

 

To demonstrate condemnation against such abuse of power and uphold parliamentary democracy for the benefit of the people and not protect those MPs who commit wrongs against the people the DAP CEC has decided to

set up a Support, Sympathy & Solidarity Committee For Karpal Singh. (SSSKS)

 

SSSKS Committee will be headed by DAP National Vice-Chair and MP for Tanjung Sdr Chow Kon Yeow.
 

Vice-Chair                   : M. Kulasegaran (MP for Ipoh Barat)

                                   Chong Eng (MP for Bukit Mertajam)

                                   Tan Kok Wai  (MP for Cheras)

Secreatary                  : Fong Po Kuan (MP for Batu Gajah)

Asst Secretary             : Anthony Loke ( State Assemblyman for Lobak)

Treasurer                    : Ong Chee Keng (DAP Selangor Chair)

Publicity Secretary:         Teresa Kok (MP for Seputih)

International Secretary:   Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew

 

This SSSKS Committee shall be planning a campaign to protest against this injustice to an elected MP.

 

Disciplinary Committee
 

Discipline is an essential ingredient to an effective and successful organization. As a democratic party DAP has always given room for differences in opinions, dissident and dissenting views. Party leaders and members should voice out their views internally and not only do so to the mass media. For the purpose of ensuring discipline, the DAP Disciplinary Committee has appointed DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Tanjung Sdr Chow Kon Yeow to be the Chairman.

 

 

Co-option of 5 CEC members
 

The CEC has also decided to co-opt five members to fill up the 30-member CEC. They are:-

 

  1. P. Gunasekaran (DAP Negeri Sembilan Deputy Chair)

  2. J. Apalasamy (DAP Pahang Vice-Chair)

  3. Goh Leong San  (State Assemblyman for Bandar Hilir, Melaka)

  4. Dr Boo Cheng Hau (Johor DAP State Organising Secretary)

  5. Sivanesan a/l Achalingam (Perak Labour Bureau Chair)

 

(9/9/2004)

* Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary-General