A war of words erupted as ex-Batu Kawan member of parliament Kasthuri Patto and her ex-DAP colleague Dr P Ramasamy began calling each other names.
It began when Kasthuri issued a statement hitting out at the former Prai assemblyman, whose state constituency falls under Batu Kawan.
The ex-parliamentarian said Ramasamy, who quit DAP yesterday, had his own self to blame for his downfall.
She also called two others who had resigned from the party some choice names but reserved the majority of her statement for Ramasamy.
“I served for 10 years as (MP) for Batu Kawan and am grateful for the privilege to be fielded as a candidate by the DAP and served my best in my two terms as an MP. Unfortunately, I had to endure the misfortune to have P Ramasamy as my state assemblyman in Prai and his self-centred councillor Satees Muniandy and the venomous David Marshel.
“The Ramasamy on the outside is one who picks fights with everyone and puffs (out) his chest as a vocal and opinionated leader, but the Ramasamy I know is manipulative, condescending to women, and uncouth.”
Kasthuri claimed Ramasamy had worked to sabotage her and her team in Prai, but projected himself on the outside as the saviour of the Indian community.
“This is far from the truth. He has abused his power and privilege to make life as miserable as possible for those who seem to be aligned with me or even neutral party members, particularly grassroot leaders.
“Ramasamy should count his blessings (as) he was a nobody in the political sphere when the party accepted his application to join DAP in 2005.
“Fresh as a member for only three years, the party then gave him a platform to contest in the 2008 elections for the Prai state constituency and the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat which he won riding on Hindraf’s wave of ‘Makkal Sakthi’ and the people’s tsunami that paved the way for a historical change in five state governments.
“He was made deputy chief minister II and for 15 years enjoyed the power, privilege and the perks that came with the job and, most importantly, DAP.”
Kasthuri said Ramasamy should stop crying victim and “spinning the story” that he had been sidelined.
She said, for the sake of the party, she had held her tongue over what Ramasamy and “his stooges” had been doing but she would not be silenced now when they were demonising DAP.
“(That) same party that gave them the platform to be ‘Yang Berhormat’ and councillors are now (being made out to be) the bad guys.
“How dare you (Ramasamy) make such vile attacks on the party leadership and personal attacks on DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke just two days before six states go for polls? This shows that you are a cunning and shrewd politician who puts his ego above the people, the camaraderie and the nation.
“You enjoyed everything DAP had given you and now you show your true colours when the party did not field you as a candidate… pride comes before a fall and you have bitten the hands that fed you.”
In reply, Ramasamy called Kasthuri a “sycophant par excellence”.
“The former Batu Kawan MP is entitled to her opinion. (However), it is blatantly clear she has been coached to write this about me…of course, with expectations of rewards.”
Ramasamy also termed the attack on him as a “typical case of crab story, using an incompetent Indian to bring down or foul mouth another Indian.”
He said Kasthuri could write whatever she wants, but the fact remains that she was one of the worst MPs in the history of the DAP.
“You don’t have to ask me, ask her constituents, they will tell you tales of how she neglected her constituency over two terms.
“She was asked not to contest in the last general election. There were too many public complaints about her. She would have lost if she had contested.
“Yet, after deciding not to contest she went around spreading tales and untruths that she was forced not to contest because of the harassment from my staff and others.
“Specifically, she blamed Satees and David. This is the famous or infamous line of Kasthuri blaming others for the horrible job she did as an MP,” he said.
“What fame and honour (did) I need to get by joining the DAP? I was a professor of political science and (an) international peace consultant before I was asked to join the DAP.”
Ramasamy claimed that the post of deputy chief minister II was created specifically for him, given his standing in society.
“There was no need to join DAP to rise in fame. I had to resign from my job in Singapore to take part in the general election in 2008. Before I left Singapore, I even refused a counteroffer. She is blind to these facts, obviously.”
“What a shame and disgrace. She has nobody to blame but herself. Yet, she has the temerity to complain about me, saying that I used the DAP for my personal advancement,” he added.
“It is her right to be the slave of the party leaders, but don’t expect such obsequious behaviour from me and others. There is no such thing as blind servility to DAP or to any other political parties. It was my decision to quit the party, mine alone.
“I fully understand why Kasthuri has to engage in this attack against me, this is the only way that she can re-ingratiate herself with the party leaders.
“By launching this uncalled-for attack against me, Kasthuri has shown all the traits of sycophant per excellence. Great, keep it up,” he added.