Perak DAP will soon launch a house-to-house signature campaign in Malim Nawar “to demand the immediate resignation” of state assemblyperson Keshvinder Singh, who quit the party last week to become a BN-friendly Independent.

dap education roundtable meeting 111006 m kulasegaran This will give Malim Nawar voters the opportunity to determine the political future of their state assemblyperson, explained DAP national vice-chairperson and Perak deputy head M Kulasegaran ( left ).

“We are going back to the voters for their decision because they voted him in on a DAP ticket and it is they who should decide on his political future,” he said.

Kulasegaran pointed out that Keshvinder, a political unknown, had not won the state seat on the strength of his personal political standing, when he contested the seat in March 2008.

As such, he said, Keshvinder should resign and allow a by-election to be held so that he can test his  popularity with the voters.

“After his resignation from DAP, he should have had the guts to take an immediate walkabout in his constituency to see how the public responded to his betrayal of their trust and confidence,” he said at a party event at the Malim Nawar wet market on Saturday.

Several state DAP leaders were there to explain Keshvinder’s “treachery” to the voters.

Sungkai assemblyperson A Sivanesan had challenged Keshvinder to meet him in Malim Nawar town at 11am on Saturday or Sunday to explain his decision to voters, but the latter did not show up.

‘Dark chapter’

Kulasegaran described the loss of Pakatan Rakyat’s control of the Perak legislative assembly due to three defections last year as a “dark chapter” in political history and one of “immense sadness, disappointment and anger” for supporters.

“The defections show how some people just do not have the political stamina, commitment and integrity to adhere to the struggle for democracy, justice and reforms,” he said.

NONE Keshvinder ( right ) is the second Perak DAP state assemblyperson to have left the party since Hee Yit Foong - who holds Jelapang - in February last year.

Last week, Perak DAP head Ngeh Koo Ham had demanded compensation of RM5 million from the duo for resigning as party members when they are elected representatives. If Hee and Keshvinder do not pay up, they face legal action by the party.

Keshvinder had claimed that he quit the party for the benefit of the constituents, as DAP has not provided funds for constituency development.

However, his former colleagues believe that his hand was forced by personal financial problems .

Since the DAP was established in 1966, all its elected representatives at state and parliamentary level have been able to serve the people without constituency allocations, noted Kulasegaran in dismissing the claim.