By Boo Su-Lyn
The Malaysian Insider
April 18, 2013
KUALA LUMPUR, April 18 – The DAP demanded the Registrar of Societies (ROS) today to retract its letter by tomorrow on not recognising the party’s office-bearers, failing which the opposition party would run under PKR and PAS logos in Election 2013.
DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said that the Bernama report, which quoted ROS director-general Datuk Abdul Rahman Othman today as saying that the DAP could still use its Rocket symbol for the May 5 polls, was “not good enough”.
“The DAP CEC in its meeting tonight decided that RoS must revoke its letter not recognising the office-bearers in the CEC by 3pm tomorrow on Friday,” Lim told reporters at the DAP headquarters here today, referring to the party’s central executive committee.
“Failure to do so will result in the DAP directing its 53 parliamentary candidates and 103 state candidates throughout the country to contest in the next general elections under the PAS symbol in peninsular Malaysia and the PKR symbol in Sabah and Sarawak,” he added.
Lim lambasted the ROS’ move in issuing the letter dated April 17, 2013, just two days before nomination day, saying it intended to “kill off DAP’s electoral prospects by forcing all DAP candidates to be independent.”
The caretaker Penang chief minister also said it was “ridiculous” for the ROS to claim that the DAP did not send out proper notices on its national congress last December, resulting in 753 delegates not attending the December 15 meeting.
DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang, who was also at the press conference, said quietly: “I want to confess I shed tears.”
Kit Siang added that the DAP was worried about voters being confused with the party using PAS’ moon logo, but pointed out that they were “forced” into taking the risk.
The MCA has frequently warned Chinese voters against supporting Pakatan Rakyat (PR), claiming that PAS, an Islamist party, would implement hudud law in the multi-racial country.
The ROS ruling could scuttle the DAP’s plans to decimate MCA in the 13th general election, especially in the Chinese party’s stronghold of Johor, where Kit Siang will take on caretaker Johor mentri besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman in the Gelang Patah federal constituency.
Election 2013 is expected to be the country’s most heated election in recent times, with a solid opposition pact going all out to remove the BN government for the first time since independence.
Guan Eng said today that it was up to voters to decide if the ROS’ action was acceptable.
“If they feel this is completely disgraceful, they’ll show their anger at the ballot box. We want BN to feel the anger of not just our supporters, but also right-thinking Malaysians,” he said.
Guan Eng pointed out that the Election Commission (EC) was bound by the ROS letter, noting that DAP candidates needed to show EC officials on nomination day a letter of authority signed by the party’s secretary-general, authorising them to use the party’s logo.
“Many of our members shed tears. How do you explain to your voters?” he said.
#1 by rahmanwang on Friday, 19 April 2013 - 4:03 am
BN just wants to have an option. If BN wins GE13 then DAP has no problem.
If BN loses GE13 then DAP’s candidates are all null and void.
So BN wins in GE13.
Whatever it is BN dying to win.
#2 by Noble House on Friday, 19 April 2013 - 4:24 am
The ROS has not been seen by many quarters to be acting impartially especially in its dealings with opposition and human rights groups. In 1988, we saw how the ROS approved Mahathir’s Umno Baru immediately after the original Umno was deregistered while rejecting an application by Razaleigh’s Umno Malaysia, which was supported by the Tunku. Now, they take this issue of law into question on what is an administrative and not a judicial ruling.
#3 by Jeffrey on Friday, 19 April 2013 - 6:07 am
YB this is precisely why in Oct 2009 in this very blog I have strenuously argued against Pakatan Rakyat’s collective decision to seek registration as a coalition under the Societies Act 1966.
#4 by Jeffrey on Friday, 19 April 2013 - 6:26 am
The DAP is (strategically) wrong and acts to its and PR’s peril to take the misguided position that a letter from ROS is more binding that its statement to the public at large via national agency Bernama. I totally disagree.
#5 by Jeffrey on Friday, 19 April 2013 - 6:28 am
Ooops -“…THAN its statement to the public at large…”
#6 by Jeffrey on Friday, 19 April 2013 - 6:32 am
You should just act on that public representation : what worse that could afterwards happen?? You should know that once won, its not easy to overturn election results by law for reason that BN made the law that way! So you win first and worry legal challenge later! This is wiser than confusing voters with the moon logo identified with the theocratic Islamic state!
Please delete my earlier comments under moderation.
#7 by Jeffrey on Friday, 19 April 2013 - 6:40 am
I ask you-how can a letter from ROS be more important that its public representation to public via national news? Uncorrected the position as reported to public stands and should be more binding! An agency like ROSA cannot just make irresponsible statement to public via national news agency to subsequently say it does not reflect its true official position! There is nothing really more sacrosanct about a letter (the words in which can be deliberately made ambiguous to pave the way to retraction also), which in any case only the DAP receives without the public having to see.
#8 by Jeffrey on Friday, 19 April 2013 - 7:42 am
///The DAP CEC in its meeting tonight decided that RoS must revoke its letter not recognising the office-bearers in the CEC by 3pm tomorrow on Friday////
What if ROS delays and the DAP then directs all its 53 parliamentary candidates and 103 state candidates throughout the country to contest in the next general elections under the banner of the Moon only to find thereafter the ROS issuing (for eg) a letter of revocation next week on grounds that today’s deadline 3pm could not be met due to Friday prayers? After all the confusion created on your side, what are you going to then say?
#9 by kg on Friday, 19 April 2013 - 8:44 am
五月五 换政府，
国阵要把火箭害；
借眼睛 借月亮，
眼睛月亮来取代！
眼睛 火箭 月亮 是一家！
#10 by kg on Friday, 19 April 2013 - 8:59 am
五月五 换政府，
Come 5th of May, change the government,
国阵要把火箭害；
But BeEnd wants to assassinate the Rocket;
借眼睛 借月亮，
So Rocket is lending the moon and the eye,
眼睛月亮来取代！
For the moon and eye to represent Rocket!
眼睛 火箭 月亮 是一家！
PKR DAP PAS is one family!
#11 by sheriff singh on Friday, 19 April 2013 - 9:27 am
Let us not be too naive.
Not many people, if there are still any remaining at all, trust our national institutions be it the AG Chambers, the EC, the RoS, the Judiciary, the Police and so on. Their actions over the recent past have resulted in this ma.sive loss of confidence in the government which prides itself as ‘one of the best democracies in the world’. This has got to be a sick joke!
Can we really trust press statements and newspaper reports? Look at our press. They twist and turn and spinning is, according to them, acceptable.
If DAP decide to use its symbol, all its candidates risk having their nomination papers rejected on Nomination Day thereby giving BN walkovers in about 150 seats. This despite the EC giving the OK to do so for it can then say they were wrong legally because Gani Patail told them so.
The risk is too great to take. So use PAS and PKR symbols instead. The path has been decided and the DAP has really no alternatives.
Let the people now see clearly how the BN government is a two-headed snake and untrustworthy party to have running this country. The die is cast. They have to go for the good of this country. There is no other choice.
The Opposition should take this opportunity to tell the citizens of this country, all the right minded and right thinking peoples of all races, that this oppressive, untrustworthy government must go.
The PR and especially the DAP has suffered a sneaky dawn attack by the RoS / BN at the 11th hour. They have been attacked Pearl Harbour style. The Giant has awakened. Let those who wreak harm be answerable for their despicable, sneaky attack. This sneaky action will no doubt bring the required reaction. Let this day be the day of infamy and an awakening. Justice will prevail, have no fear.
Raise the colours!!!
#12 by SENGLANG on Friday, 19 April 2013 - 9:57 am
This was a plot but have no choice but have to accept it. DAP has falls trapped but DAP has also to be blamed for not talking all necessary precaution to avoid issue of this nature.
If the Moon is used to replaced the Rocket, they effect is there it is the degree of it that matters. The older generation and also those voters who are guided only by the symbol will be most affected. On the positive note is that Malays voters may also be influence by the symbol.
For those voters who know who they are voting for will not be too concern by the change of the Symbol.
#13 by SENGLANG on Friday, 19 April 2013 - 10:03 am
While LKS is most up set on the turn of this event, CSL is laughing all the way as he will use the issue to launch it attack that DAP =PAS=HUDUD
#14 by kg on Friday, 19 April 2013 - 10:18 am
I think it the other way round, this is going to be BumNo BeEnd’s biggest blunder so far. This will be one of the most counter productive strategy by Bijan.
Huge opportunity behind huge crisis. Thanks to BumNo BeEnd, they are helping PR amplifying their wrongdoings, live into GE13.
Voters will make no mistake, the bad guy is, and has always been BumNo BeEnd. PR’s underdog status could be reinforced, sympathy towards PR could be multiplied.
Pas is generally accepted among the Chinese community now, thanks to HisapMud. Now, DAP = PAS, PAS = DAP, DAP = PKR, PKR = DAP. In the end, PAS = DAP = PKR, truly Malaysian PR.
#15 by SENGLANG on Friday, 19 April 2013 - 10:46 am
ALL THOSE WHO ARE STAY IN PENANG, VOTERS OR NON VOTERS PLEASE GO ALL OUT AND ENJOY THE SHOW AND FOODS BY 1 MALAYSIA CHARITY CLUB. BEFORE ENJOYING THE SHOW AND FOODS PLEASE SAY THANKS TO PR. WITH OUT PR THERE WILL NEVER BE SUCH A GENEROSITY FROM BN. PLEASE KEEP VOTING IN PR SO THAT NEXT GE YOU WILL ENJOY BIGGER FOODS FARE EVER.
PLEASE ALSO BE MINDFUL THAT AFTER 50+ YEARS OF SIPHONING YOURS MONEY ALL THESE FOODS ARE PAY BY YOURS OWN MONEY ANYWAY. IF NOT FOR PR THESE MONEY WILL NOT BE USE FOR FOODS AND CHARITY.
KEEP SUPPORT PR TO ENJOY MORE GOODIES TO COME.
ENJOY AND HAVE FUNS
#16 by sotong on Friday, 19 April 2013 - 11:50 am
Playing politics with this petty issue of registration to win at all cost, BN is going to be punished badly.
#17 by boh-liao on Friday, 19 April 2013 - 1:49 pm
Pls bear in mind in dis nation, there r lots n lots of ill-informed n mis-informed voters n rakyat
Furthermore, d msm will go 2 town with all sorts of negative lies abt DAP n PAS 2 scare both Malay n nonMalay voters
Dis is truly a god-sent opportunity 4 UmnoB 2 exploit
#18 by john on Friday, 19 April 2013 - 2:15 pm
At this 11th hour, DAP has to opt for the surest footing with regards to immediate nomination
(on qualification) this Saturday.
(Re: the Perak debacle shown that Dumno/bn would be very glad to let matter to court or to later course of events – very happy !!!. Also, must must take ROS, EC as their subsidiaries. DAP has become too complacent now ! )
Foremost, DAP must obtain final, exact version (IN WRITING) on whether ROS derecognition of CEC will impede nomination- as given 3pm, timeline.
Is a fact, Dumno/bn-C4,MaMak will ‘milk’ or take advantage to ‘torture’, distract, keep as open option,,etc. now that this “durian” has landed on their lap.
DAP next course of action must foremost able to put DAP back in the right frame of mind to concentrate comes G13 !, at the very least.
1) Is ROS final version of event firm, OK ? Otherwise,
2) To go as independent candidates ???
3) To go as Pas, PKR ???
Am sure, DAP would have consider ALL options by now. (above is just a passing thought, no menace etc. )
Finally, Pakatan has to dictate the BASIS on this GE is being run – what take centre stage. Or, has it change by this course of event – then how ? Never never to be hijacked by Dumno/bn-C4,MaMak or por*star now.
(DAP must keep faith with their voters / supporters ).
” A B U ” !
#19 by kg on Friday, 19 April 2013 - 4:16 pm
Kit was crying, I think everyone should play a role to help…