Rayer: Ramasamy is being self-serving

Seri Delima assemblyperson RSN Rayer has described the statement issued by DAP deputy secretary-general P. Ramasamy, who attacked the party and its highest leadership, as being self-serving.

Rayer said Ramasamy's statement claimed that criticisms directed at him (Ramasamy) were intended to topple him from the position of Penang's deputy chief minister 11.

"I'm very saddened the deputy chief minister II made such a statement, that DAP members practised such behaviour. It's an attack on the party and its members," he said.

"The news report shows he has no respect whatsoever for the party leadership, including adviser Lim Kit Siang, secretary-general Lim Guan Eng and life adviser Dr Chen Man Hin. It also shows his arrogance," Rayer (left) told a press conference in George Town, Penang, today.

On Dec 24, DAP national chairman Karpal Singh told Ramasamy to resign as Penang's deputy chief minister 11 for defying the DAP central executive committee's (CEC) directive barring members from making open statements attacking the party's leadership.

Karpal reportedly said Ramasamy's statement, claiming his critics were conspiring to oppose him for not fulfilling their requests for projects and special privileges, clearly defied the CEC directive.

Ramasamy's action sparked off a quarrel and, when the Perai assemblyman also announced candidates for the next general election, an infuriated Karpal warned him not to behave like a "warlord" and choose whom he liked.

Ramasamy retorted by calling Karpal Singh DAP's "godfather", which made Rayer and Bagan Dalam DAP assemblyman A. Tanasekharan to join the fray by siding Karpal.

Rayer also denied he requested for projects and privileges from Ramasamy, even though his name was not mentioned in the report of a newspaper, saying he was responding to queries from various parties.

"There are queries on the Internet and Twitter as to why I've not responded until today, whereas Karpal and Tanasekharan have answered. I vehemently deny the allegation and it can be verified by my staff who know all our expenditure," he said.

- Bernama