DAP national youth head, Teng Chang Khim today claimed that a concerted effort was being carried out to censure him after his statement made last night regarding the top leadership of the party.

"DAP state (Selangor) and state youth leaders have been pressurised to carry out a campaign to censure me after the statement I made last night. They were pressurised by a certain central executive committee (CEC) member from Melaka to do so," the state secretary revealed, adding that he bore no grudges.

At present, there are three DAP CEC members from Melaka. They are party secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock, vice-chairman Lim Guan Eng and committee member Sim Tong Him.

Teng, who is Klang state assemblyman, stated at a press conference yesterday that DAP chairperson Lim Kit Siang should decline nomination for the leadership post at its national congress on Aug 18-19 and relinquish his position to a younger generation of leaders after 32 years in the party.

Political victims

Teng, who joined the DAP in 1990, said today he was not behind any secret plot to topple Kit Siang.

"I made the statement last night after making my observations and having discussions with party leaders and grassroots members.

"I will not name the names of these people. The statement I made last night was my own opinion and I do not want the people who share the same opinions as I do to become political victims," he said.

Teng added that there needed to be a paradigm shift within the party and drew parallels between former Indonesian president Suharto and local leaders.

"I have been talking since 1990 about a day without Kit Siang. I've come to the conclusion that for 32 years in the party, he is so influential that he can override the party and that after many reforms, there is still no breakthrough," Teng said

"I welcome anybody to have a rational discussion on this with me. The fact that my opinion has created a backlash confirms my observation that something is wrong in the party where CEC members cannot even dissent," he added.