The Star Malaysia

Karpal, Ramasamy make up

Chairman praises DCM II as hatchet is buried

- By REGINA LEE and K. AHSRAF KAMMED newsdesk@thestar.com.my

SHAH ALAM: DAP chairman Karpal Singh and Penang deputy chief minister II Dr P. Ramasamy have buried the hatchet.

In his speech at the party national conference here, Karpal praised Dr Ramasamy as the first Indian deputy chief minister in the country.

Urging everyone else to follow his example, Karpal called for the party to unite.

“I call on everyone in DAP to close ranks. Let the warlords and godfathers stand together against Barisan Nasional,” said Karpal.

“The fire must be in the belly,” he said.

The very public war of words started last year when Dr Ramasamy alleged that there were “godfathers” in the party, which prompted Karpal to call Dr Ramasamy a “warlord”.

The battle reached an imbroglio when Dr Ramasamy’s supporters staged a protest against Karpal during the Penang DAP convention last month, culminatin­g in another drawn out spat between the two.

Karpal reminded the younger party leaders to remember the contributi­ons of the party veterans.

“We must encourage the new, but don’t forget the contributi­ons of the old,” he said.

When met by reporters at the sidelines of the conference, he said the matter was also being resolved by the disciplina­ry committee and would be done internally.

“It’s nothing personal. I must make it very clear. As an old member and party chairman I have some duties to carry out,” he said.

Dr Ramasamy, meanwhile, declined to comment.

“I don’t want to comment anymore. Let’s leave it at that,” he said.

 ??  ?? Major pow-wow: Party leaders at the 13th DAP National Conference 2012 at Dewan Jubli Perak in SUK Selangor.
Major pow-wow: Party leaders at the 13th DAP National Conference 2012 at Dewan Jubli Perak in SUK Selangor.

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