AFTER being dropped as a candidate in the state elections, DAP’s Bagan Dalam incumbent M. Satees lashed out at the party, claiming that it is in danger of being controlled by an “emperor”.

Satees suggested today, a day after he was among several DAP incumbents the party dropped as candidates, the so-called emperor is seeking to eliminate those who do not bow down to certain orders.

“They say (the reason several former assemblymen were dropped is for) renewal, new blood and what not. The real reason is one person wants to control Penang,” he was quoted as saying during a press conference in Penang.

“I believe that Penang is now in a dangerous position where one figure is making all the decisions.

“Penang has achieved commendable progress, but that should not be an excuse to allow any dictator to run rampant here.

“We have a democratic system here. We don’t need any emperor. To the emperor, I’m telling you that you will not be the emperor forever. Penangites are not stupid.”

Satees did not name the individual he described as an emperor but claimed that all the incumbents dropped were aligned with caretaker chief minister Chow Kon Yeow.

Yesterday, DAP  announced 19 candidates, including seven new faces, to contest in the August 12 state elections, with caretaker deputy chief minister P. Ramasamy dropped from the list.

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, when announcing the list of names, said Chow and party chairman Lim Guan Eng will defend their Padang Kota and Air Putih seats respectively.

However, he said Ramasamy and four other executive councillors have been dropped from contesting. The exco members are Chong Eng, Phee Boon Poh, Soon Lip Chee and Yeoh Soon Hin. – July 26, 2023.