The Penang DAP committee is preparing for the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary by-election, with the seat being left vacant by the death of Karpal Singh.

State DAP chairperson Chow Kon Yeow said the party has been told to prepare the statistics and logistics related to the seat, which Karpal had won with a thumping majority in the 13th general election on May 5 last year.

Chow said the party will meet on Thursday to discuss this, the same day that the Election Commission plans to hold a special meeting on the same matter.

Asked if Karpal's lawyer son Ramkarpal (left) will be the candidate, Chow said "it is the prerogative of the central executive committee (CEC) to decide on this".

Asked if the state committee will submit its recommendations, he said: "We will submit names if asked. There are also Penangites in the CEC, and they know about the situation in Penang."

He was speaking after a press conference held by Karpal's family at Komtar today.

Karpal died in a road accident on April 17, along with personal helper J.Michael Cornelius.

Ram Karpal 38, was with his father in the vehicle when it collided with a five-tonne truck near Gua Tempurung, Kampar, at 1.10am.

Karpal had revealed his succession plan to New Zealand journalist Tim Donoghue and author of the 2013 biography ‘Karpal Singh - Tiger of Jelutong’, saying that his son Ramkarpal would succeed him.

He was said to already have a succession plan in mind when convicted of sedition in 2009 and fined RM4,000 on March 11 this year.

Politicians who are convicted and fined in excess of RM2,000 are not eligible to hold or seek positions.


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