‘Get Jayabalan out… or else!’
Penang PKR grassroots leaders threaten mass resignation if incumbent, S Raveentharan, is not fielded in Batu Uban for the 13th general election.
Athi Shankar, FMT
GEORGE TOWN: A group of current and former PKR grassroots leaders here have given the party leadership a 24-hour deadline to replace T Jayabalan, the proposed parachute candidate for the Batu Uban state seat.
Permatang Pauh PKR division’s Indian community leader, N Ponnusamy, said if incumbent assemblyman S Raveentharan (photo) is not given the seat, about 2,000 Indian members in Penang would leave the party.
“After all the hard work out put in by Raveentharan, a stranger comes to take away his seat. We vehemently oppose the candidacy of Jayabalan. It’s an injustice to him.
“If the party leadership does not change its stand, PKR can expect a severe backlash from Indian members,” Ponnusamy said at a press conference in the constituency today.
Raveentharan, who was present, said that he felt “betrayed and ostracised” by the party’s decision to dump him for Jayabalan. “I’m a victim of backstabbing and malicious lies.”
A former PKR vice-chairman of Batu Kawan division, A Loganathan, claimed PKR had shown little gratitude for Indians who voted for change in the 2008 general election.
He said over the past five years, PKR had shown no respect or appreciation to sacrifices made by Indians for the party.
Indians who served well overlooked
Loganathan said grassroots leaders recruited some 11,500 Indian members to the party in 2008.
But many, he said, have left the party due to lack of recognition, appreciation and even respect.
