DAP vice-chairperson and incumbent Selangor DAP chief Teresa Kok has confirmed that it is improper for her to contest in the upcoming Federal Territories (FT) DAP committee elections.

 

Kok told Malaysiakini that her term as Selangor DAP chief ends in November, which is a month after the FT DAP elects its committee.

 

"It is improper for me to contest as I will still be Selangor DAP chief at the time," she said when contacted.

 

Kok said even if she no longer held any state level party positions, she would still be able to assist the FT and Selangor DAP committees in her capacity as national vice-chairperson.

 

Previously, there has been speculation that Kok will contest for a position in the FT DAP committee, possibly to replace its ageing chairperson Dr Tan Seng Giaw.

 

Furthermore, Kok is no longer a state assemblyperson in Selangor and is the MP for Seputeh, a Parliamentary constituency within FT, but is still a member of Selangor DAP.

 

In 2008, Kok was fielded in both Seputeh, where she had already won twice, and in adjacent Bandar Kinrara, a state legislative assembly seat located in Selangor. She was elected Selangor DAP chief in 2010.

Not compulsory

 

Meanwhile, FT DAP secretary Lim Lip Eng said the transfer in party membership of elected representatives to their respective constituencies were not compulsory, but encouraged.

 

He cited how three serving FT DAP committee members - Tan Pok Shyong, Loh Chee Heng and Ng Tien Chee - were now state assemblypersons in Selangor, but were still registered to the Cheras DAP branch.

 

He said that his own membership was transferred from the Klang branch after he was elected as the Segambut MP in 2008.

 

On the possible re-election of the central executive committee (CEC), Lim said that it would not affect the state level elections as the party branches were registered directly with the ROS.

 

Some 250 delegates from over 30 branches will be involved in the election.