Selangor DAP has urged the Public Service Department (JPA) to take disciplinary action against Registrar of Societies (ROS) director-general Mohammad Razin Abdullah for not following official procedures in instructing the party to hold a fresh election for its central executive committee (CEC).

On July 7, ROS had instructed DAP to call for a fresh election after ruling its 2013 election as invalid.

“We call upon the Public Service Department to launch disciplinary proceedings against Mohammad Razin for failing to adhere to the ROS’ client charter on the issue of DAP’s election,” said Selangor DAP assistant secretary Lau Weng San.

Lau handed over the official complaint in the form of a letter to the JPA headquarters in Putrajaya today. He was accompanied by Selangor DAP secretary and Kinrara assemblyperson Ng Tze Han.

JPA corporate communications unit chief Jaafar Jantan accepted the complaint but declined comment.

“The client charter found on ROS’ official website says the period given to investigate and decide on complaints about a society (not including court cases) is a maximum 179 working days,” Lau told reporters.

“However, in the case of DAP’s election, ROS took more than four years or 1,338 days.

"Still, it has yet to tell the DAP of its decision or the latest result from its investigations,” said Lau who is also the Kg Tunku assemblyperson.

He also said that holding a fresh election would incur a huge cost.

“We have more than 2,000 representatives from all over the country. One day of voting means we need to provide food and drinks as well; we are not a rich party.

“If we hold a fresh election, we will need to spend thousands of ringgit, including paying for hotel (accommodation). What if later ROS once again says no (to the election), do we have to do it again?

“Does this means every year we will need to hold an election... the story does not end,” said Lau.

Yesterday, DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke Siew Fook said that in the four years since the CEC election on Sept 23, 2013, ROS had not sent DAP any written notices about the party breaking any rules.

DAP had voluntarily held a re-election in 2013 after an excel spreadsheet error affected the results of the initial election held on Dec 15, 2012.

The result of the 2013 election was sent to the ROS on Nov 8, 2013, in accordance with the party’s constitution and the Societies Act 1966.

However, ROS did not acknowledge it, resulting in the DAP bringing the matter to court.

Lau said today that a directive sent to the party by ROS on Nov 11, 2013 to hold a re-election had not stated any reasons.

“In fact, it was challenged in court. Only when ROS promised to retract the notice was the case discontinued.

“This indirectly shows that ROS had admitted that the directive had weaknesses and certain things need to be discussed,” he said.