Rama’s political future hangs by a thread

DAP's central executive committee is expected to meet tomorrow night to discuss the open spat between Ramasamy and Karpal Singh.

COMMENT

GEORGE TOWN: It is a very brave man who dares take on DAP party elders such as Lim Kit Siang, Karpal Singh or Dr Chen Man Hin.

Before P Ramasamy’s ill-judged outburst against DAP national chairman Karpal Singh, there were others who attempted a tilt at the leadership. Heavyweights like Lee Lam Thye (MP for Bukit Bintang) and Wee Choo Keong (MP for Kuala Lumpur Bandar) felt the wrath of the elders and had to leave the party.

Compared to the others, Ramasamy can be considered a novice in politics. The first-time Member of Parliament (Batu Kawan) is on the naive side when it comes to the internal workings of DAP which depends on Chinese votes.

The former academic has knowingly or unknowingly found himself in the centre of the Indian problem within DAP.

Barring any miraculous eleventh hour party leadership-initiated truce, Karpal’s fiery speech at the state party convention in Prai on Sunday has sealed Ramasamy’s political fate in Penang, and maybe in the party.

All this is because he took on the mantle of championing the Indians in Penang. Some, including Indian grassroots supporters, want his wings clipped.

On the surface, the spat between Karpal and Ramasamy, the deputy chief minister II, looks like a clash of personalities. But in reality it could be an attempt to play down the Indian mess within the party.

His outburst against Karpal surely could not have been vindictive. After all, Karpal was and is Ramasamy’s mentor.

Cronyism

Academician-turned-politician Ramasamy parachuted into Penang “at the right place and the right time” in the 2008 general election and won the Batu Kawan parliamentary and Prai state seats.

He was supposed to only contest Batu Kawan against Gerakan president and chief minister Koh Tsu Koon. But Karpal decided to give him Prai as well because the veteran parliamentarian thought Ramasamy may not have a chance against Koh.

Although Ramasamy was a newcomer, acting on views expressed by party grassroots members, Karpal decided Ramasamy should also be given a starring role in the newly elected DAP-led Pakatan Raykat state government.

He was also appointed deputy chief minister II to show the Indian face of DAP.

But nearly four years later, the perception is that Ramasamy failed to deliver anything worthy for Penang Indian community .

An observer, Hindraf Makkal Sakti CEC member S Thiagarajan, said Ramasamy has failed to implement permanent solutions to resolve pressing Indian issues such as land matters of Hindu temples, Tamil schools, settlements and cemeteries in the state.

He also alleged that Ramasamy had helped only his cronies, reflecting the sentiments of many delegates at the state DAP convention.

But the novice politician made a huge blunder when he tried to bypass the central working committee (CEC), the party’s supreme body, and announced a list of candidates for the next election.

This premature announcement on party candidature through Tamil daily Makkal Osai on Nov 28 was the final straw that made Karpal and party grassroots members to decide “enough was enough”.

Inexperience laid bare

By making candidature promises, promotions and announcements, many members stressed that Ramasamy had usurped the power of the CEC.

They pointed out even Pantai Timur MP Lim Kit Siang, Karpal and other party stalwarts have never made such announcements by by-passing the CEC.

“Who is Ramasamy anyway?” Karpal’s punchline in his speech at the convention was clear reflection of the members’ sentiment.

However, some felt Ramasamy would not have dared to overstep his line without tacit support from certain top leaders.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng is being blamed for giving Ramasamy too much rope.

Many accused Lim of closing one eye on Ramasamy’s alleged attempt to establish himself as the Indian chief within the party.

In a public spat with Karpal, Ramasamy’s inexperience was laid bare. Ramasamy’s reply to reporters’ querry that he could not understand the word “apologise” was seen as sign of “open defiance and arrogance”.

When Karpal ticked off Taiping MP and Pantai Remis assemblyman Nga Kor Ming to mind his language over his “black metallic” remark, and on the same day slammed Ramasamy as a “warlord”, Nga kept his silence.

When Karpal rapped the Penang government for recruiting Barisan Nasional discards into the state administration in 2008, Lim did not response. But Lim stopped such recruitments.

When Karpal roared against PKR supremo Anwar Ibrahim for causing the downfall of Perak Pakatan government, the Opposition Leader settled the issue amicably through closed doors.

Ramasamy could have easily nipped this affair in the bud by calling on Karpal and apologising. But it never happened and unfortunately for Ramasamy, there is no turning back now.

Now, his political future rest in the hands of DAP’s elders with the party’s central executive committee set to meet tomorrow night in Kuala Lumpur over the matter.