I was just overjoyed, maintains Lip Eng

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news (1/12/2010)

Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng has denied allegations that he was drunk during the Selangor DAP convention on Sunday, saying that he was merely “overjoyed” with Seputeh MP Teresa Kok’s victory.

He said he had also apologised for his behaviour that night and had replied to a show-cause letter by the party’s national disciplinary committee on the incident. “I have replied to the show-cause letter and am prepared to face any action from the disciplinary committee,” he said yesterday. He said he had received the letter via email on Monday evening and replied immediately. He said he also sent a letter to the party headquarters.

Lim was issued the letter on Monday after he had allegedly caused a commotion at the convention when he grabbed a microphone and shouted: “Teresa Kok won!” before being told to leave the hall. The MP, who was aligned to Kok’s team in the state DAP polls, was also reported to have told her rival, Selangor state assembly Speaker Teng Chang Khim, to resign and tweeted that he must quit to form his “new Oscar party”. Although Kok finished 11th in the voting, she was elected state chairman while Teng, who garnered the fourth highest number of votes, was made vice-chairman. Lim said that although he was not sure of the kind of disciplinary action that might be taken against him, he felt it might include a reprimand, suspension or even sacking. “I regret my mistake and I deserve any action against me. I hope it will be a lesson to party members not to repeat the mistake,” he said, adding that he would continue to serve the party.

DAP’s disciplinary committee chairman Tan Kok Wai confirmed that he had received Lim’s reply and that it would meet later in the month to look into his explanation. Besides Lim, two other DAP members who received show-cause letters were Singapore Street DAP branch chairman Anthony Teo and Karamunting branch chairman Simon Chok. Both men, who are from Sandakan, Sabah, were alleged to have made accusations against the party and run down its leaders. They were issued the letters on Nov 25.