New Straits Times opens can of worms for Karpal

DAP national chairperson Karpal Singh has hit out at a report in an English language daily for slapping the nepotism practitioner label on Pakatan Rakyat leaders.

The report in today's pro-government New Straits Times headlined ‘Nepotism in opposition worrying' carried the photos of PKR de factoleader Anwar Ibrahim, his daughter Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, Karpal himself and his son Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo and Ipoh Timur MP Lim Kit Siang and his son Penang chief minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

Karpal (left) said no child of a leader should be denied the right to be involved in politics as that right is protected under the federal constitution, in an article which guarantees that all citizens are equal. 

He added that leaders' children have the right to advance themselves in politics. 

"However, when there is a tie between the ability of a leader's son and another person, where both are equal in terms of ability, then the other person has priority over the leader's son," said Karpal, at a press conference in Air Itam, Penang, today.

He was quick to point out that Lim's son Guan Eng has proven himself to be of capable leadership in Penang.

Why pot calling kettle black?

"These accusations of nepotism are not correct," said Karpal, who is also the Bukit Gelugor MP, noting that the children of Pakatan leaders are all elected representatives of the people.

He noted that Prime Minister Najib Razak also got involved in politics while his father, Abdul Razak Hussein, was prime minister, becoming Pahang menteri besar.

He said he was aware that a son of former premier Mahathir Mohamed joined politics after he retired from his 22 years in office.

Forty something Jerlun MPMukhrizMahathir,(right) is touted as the next Kedah menteri besar should BN recapture the state in the coming polls. 

That may be so, said Karpal, but alleged that Mahathir had ensured that while he was the premier, his children advanced economically.

"They are all multi-millionaires and when he was PM, he made sure he put them in all right places, in the right context. He himself is a millionaire," claimed Karpal, a well-established lawyer. 

He then threw Mahathir a gauntlet - reveal all his assets and those of his children - to clearly show what he had been doing when he was PM prior to 2003.

He hoped that Mahathir would accept his challenge, adding that if all his accounts are in order, "he has nothing to fear".

"Or else, he has lots to fear when Pakatan comes to power. This does not constitute a threat but a firm reminder to be careful in whatever he says," said Karpal.