THREE-TERM Perai assemblyman P. Ramasamy today chided his party DAP for its treatment of its incumbents in the state elections, saying the leaders could have allowed them to drop out of the race for the seats with dignity.

“I would have preferred DAP, especially its national leaders, to inform me and others that we would be dropped in line with the rejuvenation policy of the party. It could have been a dignified exit,” he said in a statement today.

“Why inform us only after the decision was made? Are we strangers at the party? Haven’t we contributed to the party?”

The outgoing Penang deputy chief minister ll reiterated he was not angry with his party for dropping him, saying he accepted the decision “if it was in the best interest of the party”.

“Having been a member of DAP for 18 years and a central executive council (CEC) member for a good number of years, and as the current deputy chairman of Penang DAP and a three-term deputy chief minister, I wanted some respect and dignity.

“I accept the argument in favour of the rejuvenation process, such a mechanism seems integral to the renewal process in almost all political parties.

“But unfortunately, the argument in favour of rejuvenation falls flat considering that both senior and junior leaders were dropped.

Penang DAP is fielding seven new faces in the August 12 state elections.

This meant dropping five of the party’s state executive council members, who are Ramasamy, Wanita DAP chief Chong Eng, Phee Boon Poh, Yeoh Soon Hin and Soon Lip Chee.

The incumbents for Bagan Dalam (M. Satees) and Pulau Tikus (Chris Lee Chun Kit) were also dropped, the latter citing health reasons.

Ramasamy said while he understood the party wanted to rejuvenate its state leaders, he questioned the rationale of dropping leaders in their 30s  and mid-40s.

“Sorry to say, the reasons advanced for the dropping of the incumbents fall flat in the face of evidence,” said the 74 year-old former academic.

He blamed internal politics for the fiasco, saying that those who were dropped were said to be aligned with the caretaker chief minister Chow Kon Yeow.

“As we are fully aware, there was a move to replace Chow as the next chief minister. Some names were proposed but withdrawn due to strong opposition in Penang.

“The party had no choice but to propose the name of Chow as the next chief minister.

“Even though Chow was not removed, those who were seen to be aligned with him had to be sacrificed to make way for another faction to dominate the line-up.

“It is well-known who the person or persons behind the anti-Chow campaign are in Penang,” he said, without saying names. – July 28, 2023.