KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today said that he will reach out to former Penang deputy chief minister II Prof P. Ramasamy to hear the latter's views over his resignation from DAP.
After Ramasamy alleged a political purge that forced his hand, Anwar also expressed his understanding of the decision and highlighted Ramasamy's positive role in the state government.
“Ramasamy is a friend. I will get his views. He understands the situation and the decision regarding several problems in the party,” he told reporters referring to DAP, after delivering his keynote address at the 36th Asia-Pacific Roundtable here.
"I think he played a positive role in helping the government and with the Madani framework," Anwar stated, adding that he hopes Ramasamy will continue to serve the public in some capacity.
Earlier today, the former Perai assemblymen submitted his resignation as Taman Chai Leng chairman and as state deputy chairman to the party secretary-general Anthony Loke and to Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow.
Following his resignation, former Sabai assemblyman Kamache Doray Rajoo, DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy) vice-chief K.Jason Raj and Taman Inderawasih member K.Krishnasamy also announced their resignation from the party.
Ramasamy was also among the seven incumbents dropped as candidates for the August 12 Penang state polls.
He said today it was the right of the party to drop him and five others as candidates for this state elections, but insisted that while it is understandable that senior leaders like him were dropped, it was not so with the younger ones.
Ramasamy also accused DAP national leaders of endorsing the “purge”, blaming an unnamed “maharaja” — Malay for "emperor" — as the source of the crises in Penang DAP. He also alleged that the DAP national leadership is beholden to this “maharaja”.
