Two Melaka state leaders were suspended by the DAP disciplinary committee for "tarnishing the party's image" after a highly publicised squabble last November.

Steven Ho, who is the DAP Bukit Beruang branch chief and former state committee member, was suspended for one month, while state deputy chairperson Goh Leong San got off with a lighter sentence - he was suspended for three days.

The dispute between the two leaders became public last November when Ho alleged that Goh, who is also the state assemblyman for Tengkera, had assaulted him.

Several police reports were lodged on the matter.

Ho claimed Goh had pushed him at the party headquarters during the DAP Wanita state elections.

Meanwhile, party members who backed Goh also lodged police reports against Ho for allegedly using vulgar language disparaging Goh's family members.

Melaka state chairperson Sim Tong Him claimed that Ho had been "going after" the state assemblyman since the DAP state convention in October, when a dispute on the meeting's minutes flared up.

The disciplinary committee also found Ho to have uttered rude words criticising the DAP Melaka state committee.

He was accused of openly criticising party leaders and gave the disciplinary committee a two-month period to "clear his name" in the press.

Meanwhile, Goh was suspended for three days after the disciplinary committee took into account that his actions were provoked by his adversary.

Personal disputes

However, the committee said that Goh should learn to tolerate criticism and control his emotions.

"His behaviour during the incident does not befit that of a leader of the state," said the disciplinary chairperson Chong Eng in the committee's report.

The disciplinary committee also ticked off the state committee for taking sides in what it deemed as personal disputes between Ho and Goh.

"The state committee had over-reacted by lodging a police report collectively against Saudara Steven Ho," Chong Eng said, adding that the reaction of the state committee actually worsened the situation.

She urged the state committee to learn from the incident and refine its ways when dealing with internal conflicts.

"Protecting the party's image must be given utmost priority," she said.