Four Ramasamy appointees to be dropped ‘as soon as possible’
(The Star) – Four individuals who were appointed by Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy to the Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB) and Penang Appeals Board will be dropped by DAP.
The party’s national chairman Karpal Singh said the four K. Mangaleswary, Dr K. Anbalakan, S. Gunalan and E. Jothi would be dropped “as soon as possible”.
All four are on the PHEB while Mangaleswary, the party’s Juru branch chairman and state Wanita vice-chairman, is also on the Appeals Board.
He added that lawyer Mangaleswary, “suddenly comes out of nowhere” and was propelled to various important positions, which he thought was wrong.
The appointments took place between 2009 and 2011.
It was reported in a blog that the state party leaders in a meeting had discussed dropping the four appointees.
“The report is quite correct. The four will be dropped soon,” said Karpal.
The PHEB looks after the management of several temples in the state as well as a cemetery, and is also responsible for running the annual Thaipusam celebration in the state.
The Appeals Board resolves disputes related to planning matters, such as rejection of planning approvals by the municipal councils.
“The state Appeals Board is a very powerful body,” said Karpal.
He added that it was unfortunate that the meeting had become public, as it was for the purpose of resolving matters within the party.
“It was not a secret meeting. I can’t lie and I won’t lie. I cannot say that it didn’t happen,” he said.
When asked whether Dr Ramasamy was “summoned” to that meeting, Karpal only said Dr Ramasamy was among those at the meeting, which was called last month for the purpose of resolving a few issues within the party.
He said other party leaders, who were at the meeting included adviser Lim Kit Siang, secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, state chairman Chow Kon Yeow along with other state leaders like R.S.N. Rayer, A. Thanasekaran and Jagdeep Singh Deo.
When asked if he thought Dr Ramasamy was being used by certain quarters to attack him politically, Karpal said he did not know for sure and he hoped not.
“During the meeting, he (Dr Ramasamy) was receptive to my suggestions,” he said.
