DAP is not racist, says Ramasamy
Susan LoonePublished: Aug 5, 2013 6:09 AM | Updated: Aug 5, 2013 6:23 AM
P Ramasamy has refuted the allegation that DAP, which is Chinese-dominated, is a racist party.
P Ramasamy has refuted the allegation that DAP, which is Chinese-dominated, is a racist party.
The DAP leader and Penang deputy chief minister said there was no basis for such allegations, adding that "it is not even worth commenting on".
"Just because there are more Chinese members in DAP does not make it a racist party. We are all Malaysians. Our policies are for all communities," he told Malaysiakini.
"Look at BN, they are founded along racial lines, not DAP, it is not fair to say it is a racist party just because the majority of its members are Chinese," he added.
Yesterday, allegations surfaced in The New Straits Times that DAP was trying to "rewrite its history" by being willing to deregister the party to erase the fact that an Indian member - former Singapore president Devan Nair - founded the party.
A similar allegation was made in an anonymous booklet authored by an unknown individual - Father Augustus Chen - who said that Lim Kit Siang had used Chinese racial sentiments to oust Nair, although in 1967, the latter appointed him as personal assistant.
The statement in NST was made by former Ladang Paroi branch vice-chairperson A David Dass whose membership was terminated by the party recently.
He was sacked together with two others, Desa Dahlia branch chairman Richard Francis Soosay and Desa Dahlia branch secretary Karthiyaini Selvaraj, for their complaints about last December’s controversial CEC (central executive committee) elections.
Another Indian member, former Bagan Luar chairperson G Asoghan, was also sacked for contesting as an independent in the last general election against DAP's A Thanasekharan and MIC's M Karupannan in the Bagan Dalam state seat.
However, other members like former Teratai assemblyperson Jenice Lee and 11 members who allegedly supported her were also sacked when the former participated in the election as an independent candidate.
Ramasamy denied that several members were terminated based on their racial background, or that the Indian members in the party were marginalised.
He said those who were sacked, though mostly Indians, were given the marching order because they breached party lines.
"It has nothing to do with race. They were sacked as they breached party lines, not because of their ethnicity.
"In DAP, discipline is important and members must operate within the party lines," added Ramasamy, who is also a member of the party's disciplinary committee.
Due to this strict discipline, Ramasamy said DAP performed well in the general election, winning 38 parliament seats.
He pointed out that the party had also improved in terms of its Indian representation in government.
The DAP leader and Penang deputy chief minister said there was no basis for such allegations, adding that "it is not even worth commenting on".
"Just because there are more Chinese members in DAP does not make it a racist party. We are all Malaysians. Our policies are for all communities," he told Malaysiakini."Look at BN, they are founded along racial lines, not DAP, it is not fair to say it is a racist party just because the majority of its members are Chinese," he added.
Yesterday, allegations surfaced in The New Straits Times that DAP was trying to "rewrite its history" by being willing to deregister the party to erase the fact that an Indian member - former Singapore president Devan Nair - founded the party.
A similar allegation was made in an anonymous booklet authored by an unknown individual - Father Augustus Chen - who said that Lim Kit Siang had used Chinese racial sentiments to oust Nair, although in 1967, the latter appointed him as personal assistant.
The statement in NST was made by former Ladang Paroi branch vice-chairperson A David Dass whose membership was terminated by the party recently.
He was sacked together with two others, Desa Dahlia branch chairman Richard Francis Soosay and Desa Dahlia branch secretary Karthiyaini Selvaraj, for their complaints about last December’s controversial CEC (central executive committee) elections.
Another Indian member, former Bagan Luar chairperson G Asoghan, was also sacked for contesting as an independent in the last general election against DAP's A Thanasekharan and MIC's M Karupannan in the Bagan Dalam state seat.
However, other members like former Teratai assemblyperson Jenice Lee and 11 members who allegedly supported her were also sacked when the former participated in the election as an independent candidate.
Ramasamy denied that several members were terminated based on their racial background, or that the Indian members in the party were marginalised.
He said those who were sacked, though mostly Indians, were given the marching order because they breached party lines.
"It has nothing to do with race. They were sacked as they breached party lines, not because of their ethnicity.
"In DAP, discipline is important and members must operate within the party lines," added Ramasamy, who is also a member of the party's disciplinary committee.
Due to this strict discipline, Ramasamy said DAP performed well in the general election, winning 38 parliament seats.
He pointed out that the party had also improved in terms of its Indian representation in government.
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