Local community leaders and 30 Prai-based associations and non-governmental organisations (NGO) urge DAP to retain Dr P Ramasamy as the candidate for Prai in the state election.
They also want the party to retain veteran state leaders like Phee Boon Poh, Soon Lip Chee, Yeoh Soon Hin and Chong Eng. They said these leaders had made vast contributions to the state.
Prai community leader Tan Boon Siew said there were rumours that these leaders, all of whom were state executive councillors, might be dropped for the state election.
He said there were also rumours that the candidate slated to replace Ramasamy in Prai was even older than him.
“We stand here before you today to tell you that we don’t want anyone else except Ramasamy. For the past 15 years, he has been doing a good job in Prai,” Tan said at a press conference in Prai today, accompanied by other community leaders and activists.
“We don’t want a newcomer, let alone someone who is being imported from outside. But, if the party insists on fielding someone else, we can’t do anything.
“We want the DAP leadership to know that we may not have a say in the choice of candidate as we are not party members, but we have the power to decide whom we vote for at the end of the day.
“If they refuse to listen to our voices now, then they can see the outcome on polling day on Aug 12.”
Tan said the associations viewed seriously the political scenario in the state after the attempt to oust Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
“We will not be patient if good leaders are subjected to such action.
“So, we hope DAP, particularly its secretary-general Anthony Loke, will not simply change the current crop of leaders, especially in Prai. Otherwise, we will not hesitate to reject Pakatan Harapan as a sign of protest in the state election” he added.
Tan said the country’s politics might not be entirely stable and the country was still recovering economically.
“We cannot afford the ‘green wave’ phenomenon.
“Our advice to the leadership is to think wisely before making any decision that can affect the people’s support for Pakatan Harapan.”
Present with Tan were Prai Por Thor Association chairman Datuk Ng Hooi Lai, Prai Mosque committee member Suhairi Musa and representative from Supreme Garden Hindu Temple K Hendry. – NST