DAP panel declares end to ‘godfather-warlord’ dispute

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 — The DAP today declared an end to the Karpal Singh-Dr P. Ramasamy “godfather-warlord” squabble without punishing either party after a Tamil-language newspaper apologised for inaccurately reporting a statement that sparked the row.

In a press release this morning signed by the three-member committee formed to resolve the row, the party said both parties have now decided to move past the controversy to concentrate on preparations for the coming election.

“DAP leaders, including Karpal and Ramasamy, are conscious of the high expectations and great trust of the people in the DAP leadership... particularly in bringing about a genuine two-coalition system in national politics by effecting a change of federal power in Putrajaya,” DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang (picture), life adviser Dr Chen Man Hin and secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said in the statement.

The committee was formed on Tuesday by the party’s top leadership to look into the ongoing squabble between Karpal, the DAP’s national chairman, and Ramasamy, who is Penang deputy chief minister.

But the panel pointed out that yesterday, Makkal Oosai chief editor M. Rajan had issued a correction on the paper’s November 28 report, admitting its mistake that the statement on the DAP’s candidates for the coming polls had not come from Ramasamy.

The panel said the paper had also paid tribute to both men’s leadership qualities.

According to an excerpt of the apology, the paper had said both Karpal and Ramasamy are important leaders, with the former having contributed many sacrifices in his career and the latter having created history to be the first member of the Indian community to hold the post of deputy chief minister.

“Taking into account the Makkal Oosai clarification and mindful of the great concerns of the people over the unity, cohesion and solidarity of the DAP leadership, Karpal, Ramasamy and the DAP CEC have decided to move forward as one solid and committed political team to complete the final preparations for the challenges of the 13th general election expected in the next few months,” the panel said.

According to the newspaper’s article, Ramasamy had purportedly said he would defend his seats and that the DAP would field three Indian women in the next general election.

Following the report, Karpal had said the party would not tolerate “warlords” like the Penang DAP deputy chief pushing for any one person to be fielded as a candidate.

Ramasamy had then hit back by saying that the DAP should not only be rid of warlords but godfathers as well.

Karpal has since insisted that Ramasamy retract his slur against him and issue a public apology.

In response, however, Ramasamy had said “I don’t understand the meaning of that word” when asked if he would apologise to Karpal.

“If I have to leave party, I will leave party. I’m not after positions and I’m not interested in those kinds of things,” he reportedly said in his speech at the party’s Penang chapter conference on Sunday.