DAP national adviser Lim Kit Siang today hit back at the prime minister’s press secretary for overstepping his boundaries by alluding to the possibility of deregistration of the party by the Registrar of Societies (RoS), an issue that falls under the jurisdiction of the Home Ministry.

Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad said yesterday Lim, whom he called a “half-century-long dictator”, was responsible for DAP’s current struggles with the RoS and that he was to blame if the party was deregistered.

In his blog today, Lim slammed Tengku Sariffuddin for “trespassing” into Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s jurisdiction, saying that there appeared to be two opposing “power centres” within the Najib administration.

“If Tengku Sariffuddin had trespassed into Zahid’s territory and jurisdiction, as the RoS is under the Home Ministry and not the Prime Minister’s Department, he should have been censured for his statement.

“But the power balance in the Najib administration has gone as askew, that Zahid’s removal as deputy prime minister is more likely than the censure of the press secretary to the prime minister, so long as Najib (Razak) is the prime minister.

“There are two power centres in the Najib administration on the issue of DAP’s deregistration – the power centre in the prime minister’s inner kitchen circle which includes non-ministers and may even exclude Zahid although he is deputy prime minister, and the power centre proper in the RoS and Home Ministry which should be the rightful authorities to deal with the subject.”

In Kuching yesterday, Zahid said a decision may be made next week on the controversy surrounding DAP’s party elections, adding that he hoped to get a written report from the director-general of RoS

Sariffuddin said yesterday it was Lim who had endorsed DAP’s problematic election results in 2012 and re-election in 2013.

The RoS then did not recognise the validity of the party’s central executive committee following complaints lodged by DAP members over allegedly unfair electoral practices.

Lim slammed Tengku Sariffuddin for his “lack of humility”, and said the attacks revealed a conspiracy to deregister the DAP.

“Tengku Sariffuddin reminds me of a political secretary to the prime minister in a former era who was so powerful that he could publicly humiliate very senior ministers, and it would be beneficial to Tengku Sariffuddin to ponder the sorry end of such hubris and lack of humility.

“Prime Minister Najib Razak should not beat around the bush or hide behind the press secretary or a phalanx of overly paid hack propagandists and publicists.

“If my political retirement is the condition for the end of the Umno or BN (Barisan Nasional) conspiracy to deregister DAP, say so, and I will give it consideration.” – July 4, 2017.