DAP names five for Bukit Gelugor by-election

GEORGE TOWN: Penang DAP will submit a five-candidate name list to the party central executive committee (CEC) for perusal and decision on its candidate for the Bukit Gelugor by-election.

Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow revealed that the CEC will meet tomorrow, Monday April 28, and among other things, the party’s highest decision making body would discuss on the party candidate and by-election preparations.

He disclosed that the five shortlisted candidates would not include any current elected representatives, hence ruling out possibility of existing party assemblymen contesting the seat.
Chow, who is the state senior executive councillor in charge of local government, traffic management and flood mitigation portfolios, told this to newsmen when officiating the Earth Day 2014 barter trade event in his Padang Kota state constituency here today.

Bukit Gelugor by-election is being held following the death of senior parliamentarian Karpal Singh of DAP on April 17 in a car accident near Kampar, Perak.

Polling is on May 25 while the nomination is on May 12, giving contestants a 13-day campaign period.

Chow, however, declined to comment when pressed on whether the late Karpal’s son Ramkarpal Singh Deo and daughter Sangeet Kaur are among the nominees.

The late Karpal won by a majority of 41,778 votes against Barisan Nasional candidate Teh Beng Yeam in the 2013 general election.

Election Commission (EC) data in 2013 showed Bukit Gelugor voters comprised 61,112 or 74.49 percent Chinese voters, 14.48 percent or 11,880 Malays, 8,660 or 10.56 Indians and 0.48 per cent or 390 others.

Karpal had won the Chinese majority seat in 2004 and defended his parliamentarian status in 2008 and 2013 with increased majorities.

Karpal’s third son, Ramkarpal, who was holding on to his father’s body after the accident, has been tipped to contest the constituency.

Sangeet’s name has also cropped up for consideration.

The late Karpal’s family members and friends have already started a signature campaign to ink Ramkarpal as DAP candidate.

It’s learnt hundreds had signed up for it.

If Ramkarpal contests and wins, he will be the Karpal’s third child to become an elected representative.

Karpal’s eldest son Jagdeep Singh Deo is Datuk Keramat assemblyman and state executive councillor in charge of the town and country planning and housing portfolios while second son Gobind Singh Deo is Puchong MP.

Source: FMT