Karpal gets flak over seat call
The CEC has discussed this issue before. It all depends on the party’s strategy in each constituency and state. – TERESA KOK
(The Star) – DAP national chairman Karpal Singh has come under fire from party leaders for his “one candidate, one seat” proposal, with a senior leader describing it as an “old story” and another saying it was unwise to raise it in the media.
Others, mainly those holding both parliamentary and state seats, chose to keep mum.
National organising secretary Teresa Kok, who is the Seputeh MP and Kinrara assemblyman, brushed off Karpal’s call as an “old story.”
“The party’s candidature committee will deal with this and the central executive committee (CEC) has discussed this issue before.
“It all depends on the party’s strategy in each constituency and state,” Kok said.
Selangor Speaker Datuk Teng Chang Khim, a four-term DAP assemblyman, said the party should have discussed the issue before the media was involved.
“It is not wise to raise (this matter) in the media. It creates unnecessary disputes and problems,” he said.
Perak DAP secretary Nga Kor Ming, who is Taiping MP and Pantai Remis assemblyman, declined to comment while state party chief Datuk Ngeh Koo Ham, the Beruas MP and Sitiawan assemblyman, could not be reached for comment.
DAP Socialist Youth chief Anthony Loke Siew Fook, who is Rasah MP and Lobak assemblyman, had little to say except that the party leadership should decide.
Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow, who is Tanjung MP and Padang Kota assemblyman, said the party would make a decision “when the time comes”, with party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who is Bagan MP and Air Putih assemblyman, saying the matter would be brought to the CEC for discussion.
On Friday, Karpal urged DAP leaders who held both parliamentary and state seats to publicly express a willingness to give up one.
He said that while there would be “extraordinary exceptions” to his “one candidate, one seat” proposal, all should be willing to vie only for a single constituency.
The Bukit Gelugor MP said Guan Eng, who is also Penang Chief Minister, should be among the “exceptions”.
Penang, the only state where the DAP holds the majority within the state government, has three DAP dual-seat representatives Lim, Chow and Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P. Ramasamy, who is Batu Kawan MP and Prai assemblyman.
All three are in the state executive council line-up and receive additional basic salaries for these positions.
It is learnt that each of the three representatives could lose over RM13,000 a month should they give up their parliament or state seat.
An assemblyman-cum-state executive councillor in Selangor can earn up to RM16,000 a month including allowances, besides getting an official car and driver.
If one is also an MP, the monthly remuneration would be almost double as a parliamentarian is paid about RM15,000 each month.
