Sunday May 12, 2013

Karpal issues quit threat if DAP joins forces with Barisan Nasional

By REGINA LEE
regina@thestar.com.my

Karpal Singh

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP chairman Karpal Singh said he would leave the party if it were to join Barisan Nasional.

“Joining Barisan is completely out of the question. I'll be the first to walk out if that happens, and I'm sure 100% (party members) will walk out with me,” he said.

However, Karpal said DAP was prepared to work with Barisan if the ruling coalition was willing to fully accept Pakatan Rakyat's election manifesto.

“Lim Kit Siang (DAP adviser) said it would be better if Barisan joins Pakatan.

“We can work with Barisan, only if they accept the Pakatan manifesto, then we will give serious consideration (to collaborate),” he said in his speech at a DAP conference attended by its elected representatives.

Former Information Minister Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin had suggested in his blog that DAP should join Barisan to represent the Chinese community.

Penang Chief Minister and party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said the DAP would never join Barisan due to differing principles.

“We have our ideals and principles. If we wanted to have positions and join Barisan, we could've been ministers a long time ago instead of crawling in prison,” he said in his speech.

Guan Eng said the party's central executive committee had endorsed PKR leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as the Opposition Leader for the current parliamentary term.

He also said Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo had been appointed to compile all instances of alleged electoral fraud and would lead the legal team when the party filed an election petition.

Earlier in his speech, Guan Eng said DAP's elected representatives should start forming teams in every polling station within their constituencies to help and service the people living in the surrounding area.

“The time when Members of Parliament or assemblymen think that they can cover their entire constituency is over. Now, teamwork is more important than ever before,” he said.

Lim also warned that errant representatives would be dealt with severely, adding that he had given full blessings to party disciplinary committee chairman Tan Kok Wai to monitor their performance and take action against those who did not.

Meanwhile, DAP life adviser Dr Chen Man Hin warned that there was no place in the party for elected representatives seeking only material gain and power.

“New members have to remember to follow our ideology. You must be prepared to serve the country and people, even if it means going to jail for it,” he said.

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Sunday May 12, 2013

Karpal issues quit threat if DAP joins forces with Barisan Nasional

By REGINA LEE regina@thestar.com.my

By REGINA LEE
regina@thestar.com.my