Goh Leong San's removal from the DAP central executive committee (CEC) has resulted in speculations that the tussle between him and party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng has yet to be resolved.

The statement issued from Lim's office today announced that Malacca state chair Goh was removed for failing to attend a single CEC meeting since his appointment in October 2004.

This is in accordance with Clause XII Section 9(h) of the party's constitution, which states: any member of the CEC who absents him/herself from three consecutive committee meetings without valid reason shall cease to be a member of the committee and the committee shall have the power to co-opt any member of the party to take his/her place, read the statement.

The statement also announced that Goh will be replaced by the party's labour bureau head A Sivanesan.

However, Goh claimed that he never received any notification about his appointment into the CEC.

When contacted, Goh said he asked DAP assemblyperson for Sungai Pinang Teng Chang Khim to raise this issue in the CEC meeting.

Why announce it?

Teng told malaysiakini later that he did raise the matter.

"I don't understand why Lim chose to announce the party's internal affairs to the public. The decision was reached on July 3, why did he wait until now to announce it?" he said.

He said all party members have been informed of this decision via the party's internal bulletin so there is no need to announce it now.

Teng also explained that the clause used the word 'cease to be' and there is no question of removal whatsoever.

"Why did Lim use the word 'removal' in the press statement? This dispute is actually avoidable. I hope the issue ends here and will never be repeated again," he said.

Contacted later, Lim's political secretary Ng Wei Aik refuted Goh's claims.

"I can confirm the party informed Goh (of his appointment) through fax, email, phone and courier post (where a signature is required) but he did not go and receive the letter from the post office so the letter was not received by him," he said.

Protracted rivalry

Political observers interpret Goh's removal as a possible revenge by Lim over their soured relations sparked off by the Malacca state elections last year.

Rivalry within the party's Malacca branch has been a long-standing issue primarily between former state assemblyperson Sim Tong Him and Lim.

Sim a long-time political adversary of Lim, stepped down after holding the post for 15 years in the highly factionalised state party and was succeeded by Goh.

Goh then polled the highest number of votes in the party's 2005 Malacca polls, with 83 votes while Lim came last with 27 votes - thus widening the party divide further.