Warring DPMM factions oust each other in EGM, AGM
The two warring factions in the Malaysian Malay Chambers of Commerce Malaysia (DPMM) today held two separate meetings in Petaling Jaya which saw each passing a resolution to oust the other.
Earlier in the morning, DPMM deputy president Syed Hussein Alhabshee chaired an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) where 89 of a total 92 attending delegates voted in support of a motion to remove DPMM president Rizal Faris Mohideen Abdul Kadir.
The two warring factions in the Malaysian Malay Chambers of Commerce Malaysia (DPMM) today held two separate meetings in Petaling Jaya which saw each passing a resolution to oust the other.
Earlier in the morning, DPMM deputy president Syed Hussein Alhabshee chaired an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) where 89 of a total 92 attending delegates voted in support of a motion to remove DPMM president Rizal Faris Mohideen Abdul Kadir.
Three hours later, Rizal chaired DPMM's annual general meeting (AGM) at a neighbouring venue, where 75 delegates in attendance passed a resolution that the membership of the 16 DPMM exco member had become automatically nullified when they sued the chambers in court.
The 16 members, according to Rizal's camp, include Syed Hussein. They were among 18 people who filed an originating summons at the Kuala Lumpur High Court against Rizal, DPMM secretary-general Don Nazwim Don Najib and the chambers.
Rizal's AGM also passed a resolution that the EGM chaired by Syed Hussein had violated Article 21.3 of DPMM's constitution.
Thus, according to the AGM resolution sighted by Malaysiakini, all decisions reached by the EGM were invalid.
It is yet to be ascertained which of the meetings would be recognised by the Registrar of Societies (ROS) as both factions claimed they had the majority in attendance.
According to lawyer Mathew Thomas Philip, who represents Syed Hussein's camp, DPMM has a total of 177 delegates with eligibility to vote of which 89 supported the vote of no-confidence against Rizal during the EGM.
However, Rizal maintained the chambers has a total of 147 delegates eligible to vote of which 75 had attended the AGM and unanimously supported its resolutions.
Rizal also questioned the validity of delegates who voted against him in the EGM claiming that they might include members from unrecognised state chapters.
'Very firm'
Meanwhile, Philip said a DPMM exco meeting held yesterday had also reached a decision to postpone the chambers' AGM today.
"The reason for the adjournment of the AGM is because the accounts are not in order. So, therefore, the accounts have to be put in order before an AGM is held," he said.
However, this was disputed by Rizal who said he had attended the same exco meeting.
Rizal told reporters that he had been "very firm" during the meeting in that DPMM has to hold its AGM today, citing a ROS directive and the chambers' constitution.
"We had a very good meeting as it was to pass (decisions) on several arrangements for the AGM like accounts, the annual report and such [...] all that was done.
"And under other arising matters, we received many opinions and advice from the meeting quorum. However, we could not accept things that are against the holding of DPMM AGM as we can't go against the law. That is the ROS' stand.
"So, I was very firm in that (we need) to stick to the rule of law, stick to the directive of ROS, stick to the constitution, and we need to run our AGM as per the statutory requirement of an association," he said.
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