Karpal backs Minority Affairs Ministy call

The DAP veteran says that such a ministry will help to serve the interest of the minorities.

PETALING JAYA: DAP chairman Karpal Singh has welcomed Hindraf’s call for the government to set up a Minority Affairs Ministry after the next general election.

“Why not? Such a ministry will definitely serve the interest of minorities in the country,” he said.

Hindraf had also vowed to back whichever political coalition that agreed to set up the ministry once it came into power.

Asked if Karpal would be interested in helming the ministry should Pakatan Rakyat win federal power, the veteran MP paused for a moment before saying, “Frankly, I rather remain a lawyer.”

Karpal added that he loved his practice. “I’m not interested in ministries,” he said.

Sharing his views on Indian leaders in DAP, the Bukit Gelugor MP dismissed notions that there was a dearth of second echelon Indian leaders in the party.

He added that DAP was a party of opportunity as it gave its young leaders time to grow in the fold.

“We have upcoming leaders like V Sivakumar [former Perak speaker] and A Siva Subramaniam [Buntong state assemblyman]. There are others from Negeri Sembilan as well,” he said.

However, he reminded young leaders to be patient as it would take time for them to become prominent at the national level.

“M Kulasegaran [Ipoh Barat MP] and I have been around for a long time. The party gives everyone the opportunity to grow but you have to be patient.

“One way to get into the spotlight is by carrying issues close to the people’s hearts and how you project yourself to the masses,” he said.

Chinese chauvinist stigma

However, Karpal admitted that DAP had problems convincing the Malays to join the party as there was a stigma that DAP was dominated by the Chinese.

“We had a lot of programmes to attract the Malays but it’s tough. The government has managed to poison their minds that DAP is a chauvinistic Chinese party,” he said.

He also recalled the past, saying the party had good Malay leaders such as former Bayan Baru MP Ahmad Nor and former party vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz.

“Unfortunately, Ahmad passed on while Tunku Abdul Aziz left the party,” he said.

But on the bright side, Karpal said that the lack of Malay leaders in DAP was complemented by PAS and PKR.

“So both these parties help us in that way, to offer Malaysians a credible choice of a government in waiting,” he added.

Seniors must sacrifice

For the coming general election, Karpal urged DAP leaders, especially seniors, to make the necessary sacrifices to gain a better chance of winning Putrajaya.

“In a war, we must be able to make sacrifices for strategic purposes. Generals must be able to take the forefront,” he said.

He cited the 1990 general election, when then DAP secretary-general Lim Kit Siang and he had to sacrifice their safe seats in the Penang state assembly to allow new members to contest.

“We decided to go for the Penang state government then. So Lim and I left our safe seats and contested in Kampung Kolam and Sungai Pinang respectively, which were BN strongholds.

“While Lim won the state seat, I lost. But the strategy almost worked as we were only short of two state seats to form the state government.

“In that spirit, we have to make sacrifices to make better gains,” said Karpal, adding that he never contested a state seat after that.

He also said that anything was possible after the 2008 general election, as no one thought Pakatan would be able to deny BN its customary two thirds majority and gain power in five states.

“Some people say it’s a sign but the coming election will decide whether it was a sign or not. For the first time, a change of government is possible,” he said.

Karpal also confirmed that he would be contesting in the 13th general election.

Asked if he would be contesting for the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary seat again, he laughed and replied: “I hope so.”