DAP must be accountable for its failures and not blame external factors such as the Islamic state issue for its losses, said a party top leader today.

Johor Youth chief Dr Boo Cheng Hau argued that reforms in the party would be pointless if the members' attention is diverted from real problems such as 'bad party management'.

"The Islamic state issue is a hot potato in DAP's hands but it is no greater threat than the party's internal shoddiness and lack of new ideas and young blood," said Boo, who added that the party should stop looking for excuses to justify its failures.

DAP will be tabling a resolution for party reforms for the fourth time in the party's history come this weekend at its annual national congress.

Several external problems have been identified and leaders claim that these factors had greatly contributed to the party's declining popularity.

Among them is the Islamic state proposal championed by DAP's opposition-front ally PAS.

Leaders from both parties have been crossing swords over the matter. Several DAP leaders had claimed that the party's association with the Islamic-based PAS was the catalyst behind its declining popularity.

"Many blamed DAP's losses in the last elections on the Islamic state but the fact remains that DAP lost many seats in the 1995 elections without the Islamic state issue," said Boo.

Boo said that even in Johor the party had lost its ground over the past 10 years.

DAP needs to be strengthened to fight a conventional political battle rather than "sulking about its failures and drifting away from the masses", he added.

Leadership crisis

Meanwhile on the controversy surrounding DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang who was criticised for remaining at the helm for too long, Boo said: "Lim has the power to decide on his future role in politics."

Recently, national Youth chief Teng Chang Khim caused an uproar in the party when he publicly urged Lim to decline nomination this year so as to pave the way for younger leaders.

Boo said despite supporting the Youth chief's call on Lim to reject nomination this year, he respected the latter for his political achievements.

Yesterday, malaysiakini reported that party delegates have proposed that the tenure of the chairperson and secretary-general be limited to three terms or nine years. This will be tabled at the annual national congress in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 18-19.