DAP bracing for fiery talks

PETALING JAYA: The DAP holds its 13th national conference today still grappling with controversies that have beset the party these last few months.

One major source of embarrassment has been the very public spat between DAP chairman Karpal Singh and Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr P Ramasamy.

Karpal is still insisting on disciplinary action against supporters of Dr Ramasamay who demonstrated against him at the Penang convention on Dec 11.

All is not well with the party in Perak and Johor either with tales of conspiracy and corruption among the territorial warlords.

Perak DAP secretary and Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming is said to have abused his position by pressuring the then newly-elected Pakatan Rakyat representatives into getting their suits tailored at a company linked to his wife.

The question being asked is whether these controversies indicate an undercurrent of dissension in the party.

However, the conference is not likely to dwell on the controversies.

Since it is certain to be the last before the general election, the leadership wants the conference to concentrate on the polls, according to DAP strategist and international bureau secretary Liew Chin Tong.

“The whole idea of the conference is that this is an election preparation meeting. We are hoping to focus the party on the next election and be clear on what we want to achieve,” he said.

“We would like to bring changes to Malaysia and we want the party to focus on that.”

Selangor DAP organising secretary Lau Weng San said: “I think that (closing ranks) will be a call from the grassroots. We have to unite since the general election is around the corner.”

The Star