First it’s cronyism, now race creeps in
Penang deputy CM’s disciplinary hearing will show how DAP handles its ‘godfather-warlord’ conflict
Karpal was referring to K. Mangleswari, who is also among three women named by Ramasamy as potential DAP candidates for the coming election. It seems that Karpal’s attack on Mangleswari has opened a can of worms within the Indian community.
THE Penang DAP is in for turbulent times as the race for positions in the party heats up, with allegations of cronyism being hurled against state leaders.
The attempt to put a lid on the simmering feud between two top leaders in the state has been disrupted by protests, including one in Klang, Selangor, over the weekend.
The latest protest by a group of about 15 people was not widely reported, but what they did definitely had an explosive effect.
The group, claiming to represent three Indian non-governmental organisations, had gathered to demand an apology from Seri Delima assemblyman R.S.N. Rayer and Bagan Dalam assemblyman A. Tanasekharan.
They claimed that the duo had offended Penang Deputy Chief Minister P. Ramasamy by alleging that he had begged for the post.
Pertubuhan Naam Tamilar Malaysia chairman G. Ramesh reportedly said Rayer should retract his statement and apologise as his comments had affected the integrity of the Tamil people.
They also burnt a picture of Rayer before dispersing.
What happened in Klang has infuriated party leaders, who are concerned that racial and ethnic politics are being dragged into the spat involving Ramasamy, Rayer, Tanasekharan and also party chairman Karpal Singh.
“The issue concerning Penang DAP leaders has got nothing to do with race or ethnicity, but we are suddenly finding it being turned into one,” said a party insider.
Party insiders also said many leaders were taken aback by the sudden rise to prominence of an unknown woman lawyer. She is now a commissioner in the state Hindu Endowment Board.
Those present at the recent Penang DAP convention would recall how even Karpal seemed to be at a loss at why the woman was being actively promoted.
“Who is this Mangleswari?” he thundered in his speech.
Karpal was referring to K. Mangleswari, who is also among three women named by Ramasamy as potential DAP candidates for the coming election. It seems that Karpal’s attack on Mangleswari has opened a can of worms within the Indian community.
Members and state elected representatives are seeking answers regarding the creeping culture of cronyism in the state DAP.
Sources say Ramasamy is set to come under the hammer on the Mangleswari issue as well as his infamous statement that “godfathers in the DAP must be gotten rid of” — an obvious reference to senior leaders like Karpal.
Karpal had made it clear that he had no issue on being referred to as a “godfather”, but it was the other part of Ramasamy’s statement which got under his skin.
“It is clear-cut insolence for Ramasamy to even suggest that the party forget the contributions of a leader like Karpal to the DAP.
“That is why the whole issue exploded and Ramasamy must now be prepared to answer why he has been acting like a warlord,” a source said.
DAP leaders are worried that such issues are cropping up at a crucial stage when the party should be concentrating on the bigger battle ahead.
It is common knowledge that some incumbents are trying to hold on to their seats while new faces go all out to be selected by getting close to certain leaders.
It remains to be seen how the party leadership is going to handle the issue, but some clues will be forthcoming when the disciplinary committee sits to hear out a complaint against Ramasamy, and more are expected to be filed soon.
