exclusive

Renegade DAP leader Goh Kheng Huat said in his reply to the show-cause letter from the party that he had not committed any crime against the party by giving his support to Keadilan in the recent Indera Kayangan by-election.

Goh, who is member of parliament for Nibong Tebal, did not deny that he was present in Indera Kayangan and that he gave his personal support to Keadilan candidate Khoo Yang Chong, who lost to Barisan Nasionals Oui Ah Lan on Jan 19.

The support I gave to Keadilan was purely founded on the conviction that the Barisan Nasional and the MCA cannot be allowed to prevail, which I strongly believe is the common conviction of all opposition parties in the country, Goh said in his one-page letter dated yesterday which was obtained by malaysiakini .

Further, I believe my presence and support for Keadilan in the by-election also has the full support of the constituents of Nibong Tebal, he added.

Goh, 39, said he expected the show-cause letter but did not expect the party to penalise him alone as there were countless other DAP members from numerous states, from ordinary members to top national leaders, giving support to Keadilan during the election campaign.

He said he was certain that the party was not totally unaware of the matter. However, Goh did not give details of the countless members he wrote of.

I believe I have not committed any crime against the DAP by giving my personal support to Keadilan [like other members did], he stated.

Of course, [on the other hand] there was also a DAP imbecile that called on the voters not to vote for Keadilan, he added.

Before the election, DAP legal adviser M Manoharan had called upon the Indian Malaysian community in Indera Kayangan to reject Keadilan.

Will of rakyat

Goh said that although DAP has left the opposition front he hoped that the party would not give way to a conduct that is tantamount to either you are with us or you are with them.

My action as stated was not intended to act against the interest of the party but simply founded on the principle and conviction that the will and aspirations of the rakyat together with the opposition must and will prevail against the BN, he added.

Yesterday, malaysiakini reported that Goh was believed to have replied to the show-cause letter issued by the partys disciplinary committee although he had considered not doing so earlier.

A party source said Goh has sent by courier, his letter to the disciplinary committee headed by party deputy secretary-general Chong Eng and all central executive committee (CEC) members.

When contacted today, DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock said he had received the letter but declined to comment as it would be prejudicial to Gohs case.

On Dec 31, the DAP CEC resolved not to get involved in the Indera Kayangan by-election and barred party members from joining the campaign which lasted for nine days.

The committee said since the party has withdrawn from the Barisan Alternatif, there was no need for its involvement.

It also does not want to be seen as supporting the Islamic state espoused by PAS, Keadilans ally in BA.