DAP to deal with 'I quit' rep's grouses

DAP will deal internally with the issues raised by its disgruntled Perak state assemblyperson A Sivasubramaniam, said party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng today.

Lim, who is also Penang chief minister, said although he was taken aback over what had happened in Perak DAP, he would nonetheless seriously look into all the issues that led to Sivasubramaniam’s aborted attempt to suddenly resign from the party.

"We deal with all the issues internally. I am sure the party would work out amicable solutions to resolve all arising matters," he said.

Buntong state assemblyperson Sivasubramaniam sent shock waves in Perak when he sent a resignation letter yesterday morning to Lim that stated he would relinquish his party posts and membership.

Following persuasion by DAP leaders, including Lim and his father cum party supremo, Kit Siang, Sivasubramaniam withdraw his threat.

Asked whether Sivasubramaniam's resignation antics had embarrassed the party, Lim said as far as he was concerned the issue was closed.

"Although it should not have happened, whatever happened had happened. We cannot change it. We learn from here and move on," he said.

Loyal and hardworking

He said Sivasubramaniam had apologised to him and the party leadership for his mistake and assured that it would not recur.

"He (Sivasubramaniam) is a loyal and hardworking party man. The party will deal with his and Indian grouses internally," Lim said.

Sivasubramaniam’s decision to distance himself from the DAP could have triggered the fall of the PAS-led Perak state government.

The coalition Perak government of DAP, PAS and PKR leads Barisan Nasional with a 31 to 28 seat razor-thin majority.

Any resignation of the coalition’s assemblypersons would spell disaster to the present state government.

Sivasubramaniam sits in the Perak DAP exco as the party publicity secretary. He attempted to quit when Perak DAP failed to keep its promise to allot two state executive positions to Indian elected representatives.

Sungkai state assemblyperson A Sivanesan was the sole Indian appointed in Perak state exco holding the less vibrant portfolios of health, environment and human resource.

Following Sivasubramaniam’s furore, DAP is expected give the speaker's post to an Indian elected representative.