Fallout in DAP over senator's post

The DAP stands accused from within of ignoring party procedure and sidelining veteran grassroots leader T Kannan for a senator’s post in the Selangor legislature.

Instead, three leaders are said to have hijacked the nomination to name their preferred candidate - the relatively new party member and former Hindraf activist V Ganabatirao (left).

National vice-chairperson M Kulasegaran, deputy secretary-general P Ramasamy and national publicity secretary Tony Pua are allegedly against Kannan’s nomination.

They believe his loyalty is suspect because his sibling is MIC Youth chief T Mohan, whose involvement in the Kampung Buah Pala saga was contentious for Ramasamy - also the Penang deputy chief minister (2) - because it dented the DAP’s image among Indian Malaysians.

A source noted that the situation is unfair to Kannan, who has been a party member for 15 years and has established 35 branches in Selangor.

The situation has been festering since Oct 23, when national vice-chairperson M Kulasegaran called for a meeting of all Indian representatives in the party to decide who should fill the senator’s post, the source said.

Selangor vice-chairperson Charles Santiago raised an objection, saying it is up to the state to nominate a candidate. He found agreement in national chairperson Karpal Singh, who ended the meeting.

At a meeting on Nov 2, the Selangor committee considered four candidates - ST Chandramohan, S Ramakrishnan, Kannan (left) and Ganabatirao. The 15 members shortlisted Kannan and Chandramohan.

However, the central working committee (CWC) overruled the state committee’s decision the following day, allegedly due to influence of Ramasamy, Kulasegaran and Pua.

On Nov 4, deputy chairperson Dr Tan Seng Giaw - along with Ramasamy - arranged to meet the Selangor leaders to explain their selection of Ganabatirao, but many did not turn up for the session.

Some grassroots members believe that Pua is attempting to build a power base by supporting Ganabatirao, in what is seen as a competition between old and new members. Both are relatively new members and are said to share a close friendship.

Other quarters, however, are apparently unhappy over Kannan’s no-show when Pakatan Rakyat parliamentarians, led by Ramasamy, went to MIC in July to demand an explanation about Maika Holdings Bhd.

Decision this week

Many grassroots leaders in Selangor are furious that Ganabatirao’s name has been submitted to to Menteri Besar Abdul Khalid Ibrahim for the senatorship.

One grassroots loyalist, who declined to be identified, said: “The party must listen to the grassroots. This is not good for the party’s growth. Even Umno listened to the division’s nomination in Bagan Pinang. It is definitely not good for party loyalists on the ground.

“The grassroots can accept someone with an excellent track record. Ganabatirao has no track record. This does not augur well for the party’s expansion.”

When contacted, Kulasegaran declined to comment, beyond saying that it is an “internal matter” and that “no decision has been made on the issue”.

Pua’s only response was: “The state assembly will decide on the matter by the end of this week.”

Santiago confirmed attending the Oct 23 meeting, adding that he would like to see “an open, inclusive and transparent selection process”.

Ramasamy dismissed the claim that Kannan was sidelined because of Mohan’s involvement in Kampung Buah Pala.

Asked to comment on the decision to nominate Ganabatirao, he said: “The state committee can shortlist and recommend (names), but it is the CWC that has the final say.

“The CWC felt that Ganabatirao is the best candidate for Selangor. The DAP also wants to (show its appreciation to) Hindraf for its support. Since Ganabatirao is a (party) member, we chose him (for the senator’s post).”

Kannan declined comment.