Perak DAP chief Ngeh Khoo Ham has denied allegations that he was undermining his opponents ahead of the party’s state leadership elections in November.

NONE Stressing that the allegation was “totally unfair”, Ngeh told Malaysiakini that he could not influence the party polls as it was the grassroots that will elect the leadership lineup.

“In any election, some will fall while others will prevail. Branches and the grassroots will decide,” he said.

He was responding to allegations by his detractors in the state leadership, who have claimed that a smear campaign was being mounted ahead of the polls.

Among other claims, the detractors claim several branches that support them were being targeted by Ngeh ( above ) and state secretary Nga Kor Ming ( below ) for disqualification from the party polls.

nga kor ming taiping speech 170710 On allegations that his faction was reviving defunct branches as a means of turning them into allies, Ngeh said that this charge was baseless.

However, he confirms that there were some branches that were facing disqualification from participating in the party polls because they were either dormant or defunct.

“As the state chairperson, whenever we receive a complaint from the members on this, we would investigate the validity of the branches,” he said.

‘We asked Kula to stay’

According to Ngeh, branches must be active for a year - meaning that they must have conducted an annual general meeting last year - to qualify for voting in the state polls this year.

Ngeh was unable to provide a figure of the troubled branches, stating that the information should remain within the party.

NONE “There are not many. Very few. The party headquarters will resolve this issue internally. I urge members not to divulge internal party matters publicly,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ngeh also expressed regret over reports that state deputy chief M Kulasegaran ( right ) was contemplating stepping down from his post in protest.

“During the meeting last night, we persuaded him not to resign. Later, he (alluded to this) through Twitter and indicated (there were) problems within Perak DAP.

“I think any problems can be discussed internally and (should) not cause speculations which would be damaging for the party,” he said.

No factional feud

Kulasegaran’s flurry of Twitter messages last night spark speculation that he would resign as state deputy chief. Mediation talks were later held between himself and several state leaders, with Ngeh and Nga on the other side, last night in Ipoh.

The peace talks reached a stalemate despite fervent appeals for a truce by top DAP leadership, that included Lim Kit Siang, Tan Kok Wai and Teresa Kok.

Kulasegaran was suppose to hold a tell-all press conference today but recanted at the eleventh hour following intervention by top party officials. The Ipoh Barat MP is now on a week-long hiatus.

Ngeh said that should Kulasegaran follow through with the resignation, he wishes the latter well.

“If he wants to resign, we must respect his views and we thank him for his contributions,” said Ngeh.

Ngeh said that the state party elections should not be labled as a factional feud because every election would involve at least two camps, and that was part of democracy.

“There is no factional fight. If we call every election a factional fight, it will not be healthy. Every election has at least two candidates. It is a healthy democratic process,” he said.