Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was today asked to explain why the DAP is allowed to contest in the Sarawak state election.

Penang-based People's Action Party (PAP) said Zahid should come clean on the matter, since the validity of the DAP’s central executive committee (CEC) is still being investigated by the Registrar of Socities (ROS).

PAP president Zulkifli Mohd Nor said Zahid himself announced this last year. The investigations began in 2013 after the party’s leadership elections.

Zulkifli said although ROS has yet to recognise DAP's CEC, the party was allowed to contest in two parliamentary by-elections in 2014 - in Bukit Gelugor and Teluk Intan.

And yesterday, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng announced that the party was putting up 30 candidates in the Sarawak state election that will be held on May 7.

"We (PAP) suspect there is a hidden ‘black hand’ or remote control behind ROS' inaction against the DAP," Zulkifli said at a press conference in Bayan Baru, Penang.

"We want no one less than the deputy prime minister and home minister to explain this as the matter is under his jurisdiction," he added.

Upon the instruction of the ROS, DAP re-elected a new central executive committee on Sept 29, 2013, but ROS has refused to ratify the new leadership line-up.

In March last year, the ROS said it was still receiving "new complaints" about the the DAP’s re-election exercise.

Ban DAP from Sarawak, Adenan urged

However, Zulkifli said even the complainants - DAP members or former ones - who lodged reports with ROS did not receive any reply from the authority.

"We cannot accept the 30 DAP candidates who are planning to contest in the Sarawak election," said Zulkifli, a former DAP national deputy chairperson.

He urged Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem to ban such "bad elements" in the DAP from the state as the party's leaders are not recognised by the ROS.

He also urged the ROS and Election Commission (EC) not to overlook the matter as it gave the impression that the two federal government agencies were not in communication with each other.

Zulkifli said if Zahid does not respond to PAP's questions by April 25, the nomination day for the Sarawak state election, a police report will be lodged on the matter.

"We want to know if Umno and DAP are working hand-in-hand in Penang. We will expose this issue if we do not get answers from Zahid," he added.

PAP national organising secretary Rahmad Isahak ( photo ) urged ROS to comply with its own rules, since it had informed the DAP via a letter dated Dec 6, 2013, that it does not recognise any of the party's decisions.

"Such decisions should include the selection of candidates for the Sarawak election.

"Why is ROS remaining silent now and has not notified the EC its position on the DAP's announcement of its 30 candidates for the Sarawak polls?" Rahmad asked.

"If ROS cannot even comply with its own instructions, better cancel them in public.

"Why is ROS giving DAP special treatment? Is there a sandiwara happening behind the curtains?" Rahmad asked.

"The people, especially the Sarawak voters, should be told the truth," he added.