Karpal's position to remain vacant pending appeal

GEORGE TOWN: Former DAP national chairman Karpal Singh's seat in the party's Central Executive Committee (CEC) is to be kept vacant.

The development came after the Bukit Gelugor MP stepped down from the position pending his appeal for sedition at the Court of Appeal.

He was fined RM4,000 by the Kuala Lumpur High Court on March 11 under Section 4(1)(b) of the Sedition Act.

A person who is fined not less than RM2,000 or jailed not less than a year is disqualified from becoming or remaining an office-bearer, adviser or employer of a registered society under Section 9A(1)(b) of the Societies Act.

Party deputy chairman Tan Kok Wai has been appointed acting chairman in the interim.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the recommendation to reserve the seat will be tabled at the coming CEC meeting on April 7th and foresaw no problems being endorsed.

“We believe there is no basis for his conviction, (when) he succeeds in his appeal, he will revert back to (become) the DAP national chairman,” the Penang Chief Minister said in a press conference today with Karpal.

Karpal said he could apply to the Registrar of Societies (ROS) for an exemption to remain as chairman, but stressed he would not do so.

“I will not demean myself or the party by applying,” he said, adding that he left it to the Court to decide.

Lim also took pains to quell the notion that this is the end of the veteran politician's career as he agreed with the suggestion the vacancy will remain for as long as it takes.

“We will wait for the return of Karpal, although we are saddened by the loss, we will wait for his return,” he said.