Several DAP leaders have voiced their unhappiness with Youth head Teng Chang Khim for asking party national chairperson Lim Kit Siang to decline nomination for the leadership post in the coming national congress.

"I cannot comment on it now but I think that he should have known that there is an internal channel where he can voice his opinions and not air it to the press," said DAP national publicity secretary Ronnie Liu.

"Personally I do not agree with what he has done," Liu told malaysiakini .

DAP's publicity bureau secretary Gobind Singh Deo said in a statement that Teng's call, made yesterday while he was giving a press conference on a different matter, was 'illogical'.

"If he (Teng) feels that he is unable to make the mark then perhaps he should resign as DAP Youth chairperson and make way for someone else who knows how to deal with it.

"I must state with regret that it is very disturbing to see the DAP Youth chairperson coming up with a statement not only so illogical but also belittling of himself,' Gobind said.

DAP MP for Seputeh, Teresa Kok said Teng's statements "hurt the feelings of many members".

"When people start complaining, it will give the impression that there is something very wrong in the party and that would hurt the feelings of party members", she said when contacted.

"It is his democratic right to voice his views but it also Kit Siang's right to accept nomination for leadership posts," Kok said, adding that the party needed to stay united in order to withstand the pressure from ruling front Barisan Nasional.

Teng's future bleak

Meanwhile, Malaysian Democratic Party secretary-general Wee Choo Keong said that Teng's future in DAP is now bleak.

"Teng's days in the party are numbered. It is only a natural course of events. The party practises nepotism and Lim Kit Siang has been in the party for too long," Wee said.

"Lim has sacked many leaders and members for speaking out on transparency, accountability and democracy within the party," he added.

Wee had served as DAP national publicity chairperson until 1998 when he was sacked from the party. He had been instrumental in the 'Knock Out Kit Siang' campaign the same year.