The spat between DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh and its Penang deputy chief P Ramasamy has been put to rest, says party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

lim guan eng at asli debate 200212 01 In a brief statement issued today, Lim said party advisers Lim Kit Siang and Chen Man Hin met with Karpal last night.

"We agreed that the latest episode that has been highlighted by the BN-controlled media has ended," said Lim, who is also Penang chief minister.

Lim urged all members to close ranks and stay focused on the historic opportunity for change to save Malaysia in the coming general election.

"All party leaders and members should stand united together so that our political enemies will not attempt to exploit the situation by organising demonstrations against the DAP or its leaders on one pretext or another," he added.

The Star's splash on the spat

Lim's statement came following a recent outburst by Karpal, who condemned the DAP disciplinary board decision clearing Ramasamy of wrong doing.

Karpal had said the decision of the committee was "null and void" as it had sat in judgment of its own panel member, Ramasamy, who is also Penang deputy chief minister.

The Bukit Gelugor MP also said on Sunday that the party has agreed that four of Ramasamy's political appointees in the Penang Hindu Endowment Board depart from their posts with immediate effect.

The mainstream newspapers went to town with the news, with The Star splashing the dispute on its front page for two consecutive days.

Lim, who has been silent on the issue, on Monday called on Karpal and other members to discuss party matters internally .

Karpal and Ramasamy fell out with each other after Ramasamy said the DAP should not have "godfathers", in response to Karpal's statement that it was up to the top DAP leadership to appoint election candidates and that the party should not harbour "warlords".