P. RAMASAMY has forgotten the true nature of DAP, which is not a race-centric party but one that champions pluralism, Jelutong MP R.S.N. Rayer said.
The retired academic, who is obsessed with Indian-Hindu issues, was out of place as a DAP leader, said Rayer, who sits on the party’s central committee.
The obsession definitely did not make the former Penang deputy chief minister a party loyalist, Rayer added.
Ramasamy left the party to form Urimai, an Indian party, after DAP did not field him to run in the Penang elections. He has since launched a series of accusations at his old party.
Rayer said his former comrade should realise that DAP is a party for all Malaysians.
Ramasamy was the Batu Kawan MP and Prai assemblyman as well as the chair of the Penang Hindu Endowment Board.
While there are admittedly more Chinese members in DAP, Rayer said the key positions in the party were held by members of all races whose role were to represent all Malaysians.
"It does not mean that if we are multi-acial, we will neglect the issues of one particular race. We will address all if it is brought to our attention but we need to be careful to preserve our diverse identity. We are a Malaysian party."
As Ramasamy has decided to only champion Indian issues, it is best he stays out of the party, said, Rayer.
Rayer said when Ramasamy was in DAP, he would preach about how the party was similar to Barisan Nasional, a multiethnic coalition.
But now he is slamming DAP for allegedly ignoring Indian issues,” he said.
He said the late DAP stalwart Datuk Seri Karpal Singh had lobbied extensively for Ramasamy to become the deputy chief minister, a position that DAP traditionally reserved for Indians.
But Ramasamy turned on Karpal just the same, Rayer said.
“We knew the type of person Ramasamy is. He was an opportunist who latched on to the strong momentum the party was gaining. If he was willing to fight Karpal, it showed what sort of person he is.
“He is no loyalist."
On reports that Urimai is considering running for Sungai Bakap in Penang, Rayer said the “good professor” was welcome to join the fight.
“We will take him on. I think Ramasamy is just bitter about being dropped as a candidate and he wants to take it out on the party. Come, we will face him."
The by-election was called after the death of the assemblyman Nor Zamri Latiff of Perikatan Nasional. – June 5, 2024.
