Karpal says 'godfathers' are necessary
Susan LoonePublished: Dec 6, 2011 5:22 AM | Updated: Dec 6, 2011 7:50 AM
DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh has cautioned against using the term 'godfathers' to describe veteran leaders but says such elders are necessary to ensure the party’s progress.
DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh has cautioned against using the term 'godfathers' to describe veteran leaders, but says such elders are necessary to ensure the party’s progress.
While admitting that the term godfathers may be misunderstood, Karpal added that the party, however, does not need ‘warlords’.
Warlords, he said, are party leaders who promise and announce seat allocations for their cronies ahead of the party central executive committee’s decision.
According to the Bukit Gelugor MP, godfathers are long-serving leaders who have helped build the party from its early days so that the younger generation could rise to their current positions.
“Present leaders in DAP came to be where they are today due to the godfathers,” Karpal (left) told Malaysiakini today.
Karpal said that leaders like Ramasamy “benefitted” from such veteran leaders, adding “leaders like him would not be able to make it if not for the godfathers, as party members were not elected based on their own strengths but due to the party's.”
'Ramasamy benefitted too'
The veteran lawyer was responding to remarks made by Penang DAP deputy chief P Ramasamy, who said the DAP should be rid of not only warlords but godfathers as well.
Ramasamy did not specifically name any veteran leader in DAP but went on to say that seat allocations for the coming general election would be decided not by one leader but jointly by members of the party's central executive committee.
Ramasamy was reported by a Tamil language daily last week to have announced seat allocations for his cronies, which he has vehemently denied.
The Penang Deputy Chief Minister II (right) insisted that he was misquoted by the newspapers, saying that he had always maintained that decision on seat allocations was the prerogative of the party's CEC.
Ramasamy was upset with the Tamil dailies for quoting him as saying that the party had decided to field three Indian women candidates.
The Prai assemblyperson also denied telling the Tamil newspapers that parliamentarians M Kulasegaran (Ipoh Barat), Charles Santiago (Klang) and M Manogaran, and assemblyperson A Sivanesan (Sungkai) were “virtually certain” of contesting in the coming general election.
He dismissed the report, which also appeared in Free Malaysia Today, quoting him as saying that he would re-contest both his Prai state seat and Batu Kawan parliamentary seat.
On Ramasamy’s denial, Karpal suggested that the former issue an immediate statement to say that he has been misquoted. “But until now, no correction has been forthcoming. He needs to clear the air immediately,” added Karpal.
While admitting that the term godfathers may be misunderstood, Karpal added that the party, however, does not need ‘warlords’.
Warlords, he said, are party leaders who promise and announce seat allocations for their cronies ahead of the party central executive committee’s decision.
According to the Bukit Gelugor MP, godfathers are long-serving leaders who have helped build the party from its early days so that the younger generation could rise to their current positions.“Present leaders in DAP came to be where they are today due to the godfathers,” Karpal (left) told Malaysiakini today.
Karpal said that leaders like Ramasamy “benefitted” from such veteran leaders, adding “leaders like him would not be able to make it if not for the godfathers, as party members were not elected based on their own strengths but due to the party's.”
'Ramasamy benefitted too'
The veteran lawyer was responding to remarks made by Penang DAP deputy chief P Ramasamy, who said the DAP should be rid of not only warlords but godfathers as well.
Ramasamy did not specifically name any veteran leader in DAP but went on to say that seat allocations for the coming general election would be decided not by one leader but jointly by members of the party's central executive committee.
Ramasamy was reported by a Tamil language daily last week to have announced seat allocations for his cronies, which he has vehemently denied.
The Penang Deputy Chief Minister II (right) insisted that he was misquoted by the newspapers, saying that he had always maintained that decision on seat allocations was the prerogative of the party's CEC.Ramasamy was upset with the Tamil dailies for quoting him as saying that the party had decided to field three Indian women candidates.
The Prai assemblyperson also denied telling the Tamil newspapers that parliamentarians M Kulasegaran (Ipoh Barat), Charles Santiago (Klang) and M Manogaran, and assemblyperson A Sivanesan (Sungkai) were “virtually certain” of contesting in the coming general election.
He dismissed the report, which also appeared in Free Malaysia Today, quoting him as saying that he would re-contest both his Prai state seat and Batu Kawan parliamentary seat.
On Ramasamy’s denial, Karpal suggested that the former issue an immediate statement to say that he has been misquoted. “But until now, no correction has been forthcoming. He needs to clear the air immediately,” added Karpal.
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