DAP lawmaker Teresa Kok has criticised Umno leader Mohd Puad Zarkashi for comparing DAP to North Korea, claming that it is Umno which is similar to the iron-fisted regime.

According to her, the Umno supreme council leader's statement was amusing but also "stupid and ridiculous".

The Seputeh MP then outlined the differences between DAP and the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea (DPRK).

Kok said Puad should be aware that DAP is an opposition party which subscribes to social democracy in a democratic nation, whereas DPRK subscribes to communism and is a totalitarian state.

"According to the website of DPRK, it says 'The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is guided in its activities by the Juche idea authored by President Kim Il-sung.

"The Juche idea means, in a nutshell, that the masters of the revolution and construction are the masses of the people and that they are also the motive force of the revolution and construction'," she added in a media statement.

She pointed out that members of DAP's central executive committee (CEC) are elected by the delegates of branches in the triennial party congress.

"Every DAP branch will elect office bearers and delegates through the annual general assembly to elect CEC members and state leaders of the DAP.

"Both Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng are elected by DAP delegates in the party congress through democratic elections within the party. Unlike DPRK, where all decisions of the party and the government are decided by the leader," she added.

Isn't Umno the high-handed one?

The Seputeh MP also accused Puad of a making a lame argument in citing the problems DAP is facing with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) as the ROS is part of the government machinery under the direction of the ruling party.

As for likening Umno to North Korea, Kok claimed there are similarities in terms of undemocratic policies and operations.

"Especially in the manner of clamping down political dissents.

"So, using the logic of Puad, maybe Umno is the sister party to DPRK as both parties clamp down on political dissents in a high-handed manner and both parties practise pseudo-democracy,” she charged.

In a statement yesterday, the Umno leader took a swipe at Kit Siang and his son for purportedly showing no signs of relinquishing power.

"Is DAP a democratic party? If we believe North Korea is a democratic nation because it is known as the Democratic People's Republic of North Korea (DPRK), then we can also believe DAP is a democratic party," he had said.