THE bickering between DAP and former Klang MP Charles Santiago shows no sign of ending with Selangor DAP chief Gobind Singh Deo insisting that the latter knew his term would not be renewed in the coming general election. 

In a statement, Gobind said Santiago had met him twice to seek support to defend the Klang parliamentary seat. 

“My position remains. Charles met me in 2013 and 2018 for support for his candidature in Klang. 

“It was clear then that there were calls for him to be replaced. I supported him nevertheless and he was given the opportunity to carry on,” Gobind said in a statement today. 

Gobind said he had informed Santiago in 2018 that it would be difficult for him to carry on beyond that term, and as such, it would be his last. 

“It is a fact that there have been calls for his replacement and he is well aware of this, and the reasons for it. 

“This was also again made known to him in my office last week and discussed between us,” Gobind added. 

Gobind’s comment came hours after Santiago denied that he was informed much earlier that the 14th general election (GE14) in 2018 would be his last as a candidate. 

He said that such narratives were made up by DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke and Selangor DAP chief Gobind Singh Deo so that they could handle the backlash over the party’s decision to drop him as a candidate for the coming general election. 

“It’s unfortunate that they are resorting to such responses given the massive public criticism (over their decision). 

“And even if the extent of the backlash freaks them out, it’s unbecoming of both Loke and Gobind to hint that they were doing me a favour by allowing me to continue as a lawmaker given that I do not hold positions in the party. 

Santiago, a three-term Klang MP, however urged Klang voters to continue to support Pakatan Harapan and vote for the new DAP candidate, Kota Kemuning assemblyman V. Ganabatirau. 

On Wednesday, Loke announced that Ganabatirau would replace Santiago as the candidate for Klang. 

Following the dropping of Santiago as the candidate and the subsequent public criticism over the decision, Loke had been quoted as saying that DAP had agreed the 2018 election was going to be Santiago’s last race for the seat. 

He also said Santiago was aware of the decision. – October 28, 2022.