Indians Begging for Positions Warlord Ramasamy Makkal Osai turned Ramasamy’s Apologist DAP leaders: Rama should sue Makkal Osai Ramasamy sacks aide over assault allegation     Karpal warns Rama to behave Athi Shankar  | December 11, 2011 PRAI: DAP national chairman Karpal Singh today told Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy to behave and not let power to get to his head. Karpal also demanded Ramasamy to immediately retract and apologise for his godfather remark against the party veteran leaders, especially him. “Who is Ramasamy anyway? He is a creation of the DAP. “I told the press before and I’m repeating it now … he should never act like a war lord. “No one can be war lords in the DAP,” chided Karpal in a hard hitting speech aimed at Ramasamy at Penang DAP convention in Pearl View Hotel here today Karpal said Ramasamy’s unsavoury godfather remark would only invoke images of mafia. “DAP will not tolerate mafia. DAP is for all races,” he said. Karpal reminded Ramasamy that the position of DCM 2 was a honour to ethnic Malaysian Indian community. “But Ramasamy should let the position to get into his head. He cannot do things as he like. “Anyone who comes to the DAP must rise through the rank. You won because of DAP. “You can’t just come around and do as you like,” he slammed Ramasamy. Pro-Ramasamy demo Karpal warned Ramasamy to behave well from now on, or else necessary action would be taken against him. Prior to the start of the convention, some 100 people held a pro-Ramasamy demonstration outside the hotel. They hurled criticisms against Karpal, assemblymen RS Nethaji Rayer (Seri Delima) and A Tanasekharan (Bagan Dalam). Chants of “pension lah! pension lah!” were heard among the protesters when Karpal arrived for the convention. “I regret the demonstration out there.“We don’t believe in bringing people out there,” Karpal told some 500 DAP leaders and delegates, and newsmen in the hall On Ramasamy’s call on DAP to get rid of godfathers, Karpal called on members not to forget the sacrifices of party veterans. Without the hard work and sacrifices of veterans, he said the DAP would not have achieved its current political success, especially in capturing the Penang government. He said due to hard work of party veterans and grassroots, the party was able to achieve the ‘mission impossible’ in the last election. “Who built the party … the veterans. Let’s not forget sacrifices of veterans in DAP. Some leaders like Lim Kit Siang is just whisker away from being indispensable. “You just can’t join the party and impose your will on the party,” said Karpal, hitting at Ramasamy’s announcement on party candidatures in Tamil daily Makkal Osai on Nov 28. “I said it very clearly then that he had no business to do so,” said Karpal, warning Ramasamy not to usurp the power of central executive committee. Karpal also questioned on who was K Mangaleswari, an unknown lawyer promoted by Ramasamy as a candidate for Jawi state constituency. Guan Eng’s message At a press conference later, Karpal said the party would initiate disciplinary proceedings against Ramasamy if the apology was not forthcoming. “The DAP will take action against anyone, notwithstanding how high you are,” warned Karpal. He said chairman of Kuala Juru branch, which comes under the Batu Kawan parliamentary constituency, Tan Ah Huat has lodged a complaint against Ramasamy over his godfather remark. Karpal said Tan lodged the complaint on Dec 8. Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who was present at the joint press conference, declined to comment when asked on the party’s action to resolve the Ramasamy fiasco. In his speech earlier, Lim, the Penang Chief Minister, said that it was vital to develop new dynamic leadership to strengthen the party’s political future. He said the party needed to add on new members with new skills to keep building the party. “We cannot always rely on past history. It’s the current history that counts. “Otherwise, we will have no future,” said Lim.

MIC Elections 2006

.What's Happening ?

Makkal Osai

Malasia Nanban

DAP's central executive committee is expected to meet tomorrow night to discuss the open spat between Ramasamy and Karpal Singh.

GEORGE TOWN: It is a very brave man who dares take on DAP party elders such as Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh or Dr Chen Man Hin.

Before P Ramasamy’s ill-judged outburst against DAP national chairman Karpal Singh, there were others who attempted a tilt at the leadership. Heavyweights like Lee Lam Thye (MP for Bukit Bintang) and Wee Choo Keong (MP for Kuala Lumpur Bandar) felt the wrath of the elders and had to leave the party.

Compared to the others, Ramasamy can be considered a novice in politics. The first-time Member of Parliament (Batu Kawan) is on the naive side when it comes to the internal workings of DAP which depends on Chinese votes.

The former academic has knowingly or unknowingly found himself in the centre of the Indian problem within DAP.

Barring any miraculous eleventh hour party leadership-initiated truce, Karpal’s fiery speech at the state party convention in Prai on Sunday has sealed Ramasamy’s political fate in Penang, and maybe in the party.

All this is because he took on the mantle of championing the Indians in Penang. Some, including Indian grassroots supporters, want his wings clipped.

On the surface, the spat between Karpal and Ramasamy, the deputy chief minister II, looks like a clash of personalities. But in reality it could be an attempt to play down the Indian mess within the party.

His outburst against Karpal surely could not have been vindictive. After all, Karpal was and is Ramasamy’s mentor.

Cronyism

Academician-turned-politician Ramasamy parachuted into Penang “at the right place and the right time” in the 2008 general election and won the Batu Kawan parliamentary and Prai state seats.

He was supposed to only contest Batu Kawan against Gerakan president and chief minister Koh Tsu Koon. But Karpal decided to give him Prai as well because the veteran parliamentarian thought Ramasamy may not have a chance against Koh.

Although Ramasamy was a newcomer, acting on views expressed by party grassroots members, Karpal decided Ramasamy should also be given a starring role in the newly elected DAP-led Pakatan Raykat state government.

He was also appointed deputy chief minister II to show the Indian face of DAP.

But nearly four years later, the perception is that Ramasamy failed to deliver anything worthy for Penang Indian community .

An observer, Hindraf Makkal Sakti CEC member S Thiagarajan, said Ramasamy has failed to implement permanent solutions to resolve pressing Indian issues such as land matters of Hindu temples, Tamil schools, settlements and cemeteries in the state.

He also alleged that Ramasamy had helped only his cronies, reflecting the sentiments of many delegates at the state DAP convention.

But the novice politician made a huge blunder when he tried to bypass the central working committee (CEC), the party’s supreme body, and announced a list of candidates for the next election.

This premature announcement on party candidature through Tamil daily Makkal Osai on Nov 28 was the final straw that made Karpal and party grassroots members to decide “enough was enough”.

Inexperience laid bare

By making candidature promises, promotions and announcements, many members stressed that Ramasamy had usurped the power of the CEC.

They pointed out even Pantai Timur MP Lim Kit Siang, Karpal and other party stalwarts have never made such announcements by by-passing the CEC.

“Who is Ramasamy anyway?” Karpal’s punchline in his speech at the convention was clear reflection of the members’ sentiment.

However, some felt Ramasamy would not have dared to overstep his line without tacit support from certain top leaders.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is being blamed for giving Ramasamy too much rope.

Many accused Lim of closing one eye on Ramasamy’s alleged attempt to establish himself as the Indian chief within the party.

In a public spat with Karpal, Ramasamy’s inexperience was laid bare. Ramasamy’s reply to reporters’ querry that he could not understand the word “apologise” was seen as sign of “open defiance and arrogance”.

When Karpal ticked off Taiping MP and Pantai Remis assemblyman Nga Kor Ming to mind his language over his “black metallic” remark, and on the same day slammed Ramasamy as a “warlord”, Nga kept his silence.

When Karpal rapped the Penang government for recruiting Barisan Nasional discards into the state administration in 2008, Lim did not response. But Lim stopped such recruitments.

When Karpal roared against PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim for causing the downfall of Perak Pakatan government, the Opposition Leader settled the issue amicably through closed doors.

Ramasamy could have easily nipped this affair in the bud by calling on Karpal and apologising. But it never happened and unfortunately for Ramasamy, there is no turning back now.

Now, his political future rest in the hands of DAP’s elders with the party’s central executive committee set to meet tomorrow night in Kuala Lumpur over the matter.

Susan Loone, Dec 12, 2011 Malaysiakini

Embattled Penang DAP deputy chief P Ramasamy has refuted accusations that he is a johnny-come-lately to the party as his involvement dates back to 1981, when he was still an academician.

Ramasamy, who is deputy chief minister II, said since his involvement, he has worked with top DAP leaders such as V David and P Patto while being a university lecturer.

He said he finally joined DAP in August 2005, after he was terminated from his job due to his political involvement.

“I did not parachute into DAP before coming to Penang,” said Ramasamy, referring to DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh who asked at the recent party state convention, “Who is Ramasamy?”

“No one (in the university) was with the DAP except me. Those found to be so could be sacked. I received 10 warning letters before asked to show cause by the education minister for hosting a talk with Lim Guan Eng,” he added.

Ramasamy, whose case has been referred to the disciplinary board, told this to the delegates at the DAP state convention in Penang yesterday, during his winding-up speech.

He had also offered to quit over the remark if the disciplinary board found him guilty and the central executive committee asked him to.

He was referring to Karpal’s public rebuke and demand that he apologises over his 'godfather' remark during the party’s convention yesterday.

The remark was Ramasamy’s response to Karpal calling him a warlord for promising and announcing seats for his cronies, which Ramasamy has vehemently denied.

When he got the show-cause from the university, Ramasamy said, its vice-chancellor (VC) took him aside and requested him to issue an apology via a letter.

The VC, he added, did not want him to be sacked, and had told him he would reinstate Ramasamy when he made the apology.

“Over my dead body,” Ramasamy had said to the VC, and that had left him jobless, as no university, even private ones, had dared to offer him a job after this episode.

“Just as Karpal had once said those words before,” he added, referring to Karpal’s ‘over my dead body’ remark in 1990 on PAS’ insistence in setting-up an Islamic state.

Karpal had issued a public apology in Penang for the remark during the 1999 general election.

Ramasamy said he then had to borrow heavily from the banks to finance his children’s education as his wife was a homemaker, but finally got employed in Singapore.

‘I did not know where Batu Kawan was’

“When the 2008 polls came, Guan Eng had suggested I contest in Penang. I had just got a job in Singapore and who knew there would be a (political) tsunami,” he said.

“The university director had said he hoped I would not go. At that time, I had a decent salary and a consultancy on Sri Lanka issues,” he added.

But he decided to leave and contest with the DAP after all, and when Guan Eng told him to take on the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat, he said, “I did not even know where it was”.

He wondered if he could have won the Batu Kawan seat as former chief minister Koh Tsu Koon had gone there to contest.

He was also offered the Prai state seat to contest, although he did not want it, and had won both.

Ramasamy said he has great respect for DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang, Karpal, Guan Eng, David and Patto, which was the reason why he joined DAP.

On what transpired recently, Ramasamy left it to the  DAP delegates to judge.

He related that when he saw the ‘warlord’ report in the newspapers, he could not believe that Karpal  had said this.

“He could have called me about it or scolded me, never mind. But Karpal did not return my calls. I was the aggrieved party. I was accused and no right of appeal for people to hear what I have to say,” he lamented.

Ramasamy admitted making the statement that  there should be no “warlords and godfathers” in the DAP.

“I don’t deny it or say the press had misquoted me. But following the remark, things went out of control,” he added.

He said after a press conference by Seri Delima assemblyperson RSN Rayer (right), which focused on him begging for the DCM II post for himself, the issue had been “twisted and retwisted” by the Tamil papers to raise the sentiments of the Indian community.

The issue now has gone beyond him as it is now an Indian community issue.

He does not think that Rayer meant to insult the Indian community but it turned out to be that way in the newspapers, Ramasamy said.

He stressed that it was not a problem to apologise to Karpal or even to a child.

Ramasamy said after this, he had promised Kit Siang that he would not talk to the press any longer but it seems that Rayer did not follow suit.

“I do not know whether Kit Siang spoke to him or not. Karpal lashed out at me, no problem, he is like a big brother to me. In fact I told his son Jagdeep Singh that Karpal is my political guru,” he added.

Susan Loone Dec 11, 2011 Malaysiakini

Penang DAP deputy chief P Ramasamy, who is currently embroiled in a spat with his party boss for labelling him a 'godfather', has been referred to the disciplinary committee.

According to DAP national chief Karpal Singh (right), the party has received a complaint against Ramasamy from a local leader - Kampung Juru division chief Tan Ah Huat - over the matter.

Karpal said Tan has sent a letter, received by the party on Dec 8 and referred to the disciplinary board for further action.

He was asked to comment on what action the party would  take against Ramasamy if the latter fails to retract his “godfather” remark and apologise to Karpal.

"If someone does not conform to DAP practises, the party can take action against anyone, no matter how high (the position) . It is as simple as that," the party chief told reporters.

‘Counter Tamil papers’

Karpal was told Barisan National leaders have started to criticise the DAP for this crisis, and asked if it would have been better to keep the conflict behind closed doors.

"Public interest issues need to be brought to the attention of the public. (But) one cannot openly announce seats for others and oneself.

"If the reports are wrong, it must be corrected immediately. That is what we always do or else it stands," added Karpal, who is Bukit Gelugor MP.

He was referring to reports in the Tamil dailies quoting Ramasamy (left) as promising and announcing election candidacy for his supporters, statements that the latter had denied.

The reports sparked the row when Karpal responded saying there should not be warlords in the party, and Ramasamy shot back saying there should not be any godfathers as well.

The squabble escalated when two assemblypersons - RSN Rayer (Seri Delima) and A Thanasekharan (Bagan Dalam) - jumped into the fray to demand an apology and retraction from Ramasamy over his remark.

Karpal, when asked today if he is aware that the grassroots want Ramasamy out by the next election, said he has not heard about the matter.

However, Karpal maintained that if Ramasamy does not apologise, the party would still have to resolve the matter.

Guan Eng remains mum

Meanwhile,  DAP national secretary Lim Guan Eng refused to be dragged into the acrimony.

During a press conference at the party's state convention in Butterworth today, Lim answered reporters’ questions about the matter with a terse, "I have no comments".

Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow offered the press an equally curt reply saying, "The top DAP leaders are here (to respond)".

Karpal eventually spoke up saying that the entire episode was “unfortunate”.

"It is unfortunate this has happenned in the DAP, the way it is done," he said.

When met before the press conference, Ramasamy, who is also Penang deputy chief minister II, said he will soon make an official statement over the matter.

When asked if he would apologise and retract his “godfather” statement, Ramasamy maintained, "I will not be intimidated."

Susan Loone, 4:00PM Dec 11, 2011, malaysiakini

Penang DAP deputy chief P Ramasamy said he was willing to leave the party over his 'godfather' remark, if asked to by the central executive committee, but insists that the remark was never meant to target his party boss.

Ramasamy (left), who is also Penang Deputy Chief Minister II, said he has not belittled any DAP leader as it was not his intention to criticise them with the controversial remark.

He said he was ready to sit down and talk to DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh, who had felt slighted and had demanded an apology and retraction from Ramasamy over the remark.

"If necessary, I can apologise. But I must be given face. I am not just an ordinary person, I have dignity.

"If to the extent I have to leave the party (over this issue), I will leave," he told the 1,000-odd delegates at the party's state convention in Penang today.

"I am not interested in power or positions. (I am saying this) as there are allegations and conspiracies (claiming) that I am," he added.

Ramasamy was responding to Karpal's opening speech that criticised him for disrespecting party elders and the national chairperson’s later announcement that disciplinary action was in the pipeline.

‘Others also at fault’

Meanwhile, during his wrap up speech at the convention, Ramasamy said he will leave the matter of his conflict with Karpal and two state reps, with the central executive committee (CEC).

He maintains that he is not angry with either Karpal or the two reps who had come to the veteran leader’s defence - RSN Rayer (Seri Delima) and A Thanasekharan (Bagan Dalam) - but quipped, “Please look at yourself first.”

He said he would still seek for opportunities to talk to the Bukit Gelugor MP, and claimed that the senior leader has not answered nor returned his calls ever since news of the row between the duo broke out in the press.

However, Ramasamy was not content to take the rap for the conflict himself, saying that many others were involved as well.

"The CEC is a collective decision and no one must be above it. But it should not be just me (who takes responsibility) as many are involved.

“If (the decision of the CEC is unjust, I will fight against it," he said.

He said that although the press has gone to town with the spat, he was not about to overreact or aggravate the situation, but will abide by the CEC’s eventual decision "honourably and respectfully".

However he cautioned that Indian supporters may not let the matter up easily as they have been hurt by Rayer's remark that Ramasamy had to beg for the DCM post for an Indian.

"Let’s put this behind us, let the internal mechanism resolve this issue, and let’s face the Umno and BN juggernauts (in the coming general election)," he said at the end of his speech.

Guan Eng calls for unity

During his wrap up speech, party secretary general Lim Guan Eng finally commented on the on-going crisis saying that he too hopes that the internal party mechanism can resolve the problem.

He said the party can resolve the issue and the rakyat will understand.

"Because this is not related to the state government. This is something that needs to be managed by the party.

"Let us support the efforts of the party to ensure that Penang will still be safe for Pakatan Rakyat (in the coming polls). To be safe, let's unite!" he said.

Lim also cautioned members to provide proof before complaining publicly about mismanagement of funds related to the state government.

He added that the state was serious in preserving the integrity of its officials, through measures like implementing strictly the open tender system.

He assured members that no one can "run away or hide" from their errors as the state and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, would take stern actions against defaulters.

"We will act; no cover up as this is not DAP's culture, (which is) to protect the integrity of the state. But please provide proof.

“But management issues can be disputed. We want Bersih leaders," he said.

'Learn and move on'

Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow (below) said he found it most difficult to wrap up the session due to all the incidents that had taken place before and during the convention.

He added that the episodes have hurt everyone's feelings regardless of whose side the supporters were on.

"But we have heard the voices of the delegates to urge everyone to unite and go forward, or we cannot afford to face our enemies, which is Umno and BN," he said.

"Let this be a great lesson to learn from this episode.

“United we stand, divided we fall - is an easy enough lesson to learn but politicians everywhere, not only in DAP, find it difficult to understand this, that is why conflicts happen although it does not benefit the party," he added.

Susan Loone 12:11PM Dec 11, 2011

DAP’s Karpal Singh hit hard at embattled Penang DAP deputy chief P Ramasamy demanding the latter apologise for his controversial "godfather" remark.

During his speech at the state DAP convention in Penang today, Karpal - the party's national chairperson - asked Ramasamy (left) to "behave himself" and respect the contributions of veteran party leaders.

He asked Ramasamy who is Penang DAP deputy chief, to respect the elders even though the party's number one position is disposable.

"Who built DAP? It's the veterans who built the party and don't ever forget the sacrifices of the veteran leaders.

"The party wouldn't have been around without the sacrifices of veteran leaders and leaders today won't be leaders without the veterans and I don't mince my words," he said.

Ramasamy told not to impose his ways

Karpal also lashed out at Ramasamy for joining the party and for "imposing things your own way".

He insisted that no one could be a warlord in the DAP and Ramasamy had no business to be one and just name the candidates of his choice.

This was alleged in Tamil language dailies. However Ramasamy vehemently denied that he had done so.

He claimed he had merely said that seat allocation was the prerogative of the DAP central executive committee.

Karpal went on to reprimand Ramasamy for calling him a "godfather". 

He also told Ramasamy told not to let being the first deputy chief minister in Penang get to his head.

"Top leaders are ones who have gone through wars and battles and you just can't come in and strut around."

He also voiced his regret over the short protest in support of Ramasamy that went on below Pearl View hotel where the convention was held.

Karpal's speech was disrupted when members crossed words but the convention's facilitators managed to calm things down.