PENANG DAP concluded its landmark state elections with Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong appointed as the new state chairman but there are lingering issues afflicting the party here - namely the polemics confronting the Indian community.
At the sidelines of the convention and election at Setia Spice Arena, DAP Happy Valley branch head R. Ganeson was in a foul mood, slamming the party for firstly not fully backing party vice-president Teresa Kok over the controversial halal certification and the alleged lacklustre leadership of the Penang Hindu Endowment Board (PHEB).
Ganeson also took umbrage over the party's silence over issues confronting the state and country, saying that DAP is now more like a "mouse" rather than a "tiger", referring to the late Datuk Seri Karpal Singh.
He also lambasted party secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook for not staying neutral in the elections when he had earlier urged the delegates to support Sim as the chairperson and Deputy Finance Minister Lim Hui Ying as the state secretary.
He said Loke was seen as interfering in the conduct of the Penang DAP.
Ganeson also wanted state executive councillor Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo to be made PHEB chairman as the current leader, Jelutong MP R.S.N. Rayer is a parliamentarian and preoccupied with his many legal cases and national work.
Party observers noted that the Indian membership in DAP is on the rise, namely in Penang because the community has no other representation.
While MIC is part of the national unity government through its long-standing Barisan Nasional coalition, the party lacks the clout and no longer has a strong voice to represent the grouses of Indians, particularly in Penang.
MIC's only ties to Penang is through its chairman Datuk J. Dhinagaran, who is made a board member of PHEB.
Other parties such as PPP and IPF can hardly meet the expectations of the Indian electorate despite having substantial Indian members.
Observers said the Indian community in Penang gravitated towards DAP when it made P. Ramasamy deputy chief minister II (DCM II).
They said Ramasamy quit DAP in a huff last year, but the Indians have stayed loyal to DAP.
It is learnt that out of close to 300 DAP branches in Penang, some comprise all Indian members, and over 15% of the 31 candidates seeking for leadership slots in the state party election, were Indians.
In Sunday's election, an Indian Punjabi, Ramkarpal Singh Deo, the son of Karpal, emerged as the first-place winner, while Rayer secured the last elected spot.
Sundarajoo, who opted out from contesting, was co-opted in by Sim, making it three representatives of the Indian community in Penang DAP.
Political scientist Datuk Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian acknowledged the rise of Indians in DAP, adding the party has a multi-racial leaning.
The party has to find ways to address the issues of the community, he said.
Rayer could not be reached for comment.
Former PKR deputy secretary-general S. Raveentharan said DAP is emerging as one party that has attracted the interests of the Indians, namely due to Karpal's larger-than-life leadership style and Ramasamy's legacy as DCM II.
Raveentharan said there is a need for the party to address the issues of the community, perhaps by consolidating with parties who have strong Indian input to find a sustainable solution to the woes they are facing from the scope of the economy, education, culture, and welfare. - September 26, 2024.
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