The family of the late Karpal Singh has denied involvement in a petition to name Ramkarpal Singh as the candidate for the upcoming Bukit Gelugor by-election slated for May 25.

Dato Keramat assemblyperson Jagdeep Singh Deo said his family did not take part in gathering signatures for Ramkarpal, 38, a prominent lawyer, to fill the parliamentary seat, held by their late father since 2004.

"It was probably done by the public who want to see Ram Karpal ( left ) as candidate for Bukit Gelugor. Our family is not involved in the matter," he told Malaysiakini .

The Star reported yesterday that one of Karpal's nieces, who requested anonymity, had said that hundreds of signatures had been collected during the " akhand path " (memorial prayers) held at the Waada Gudwara Sahib along Jalan Gudwara from Thursday to Saturday, and these will be submitted to the DAP leadership.

Yesterday, Penang DAP chief Chow Kon Yeow said five names were short-listed by the state party committee which held a meeting over the matter on Thursday night, adding that none of them were elected representatives.

This list will be submitted to the Central Executive Committee (CEC), which will hold its meeting in Kuala Lumpur today to decide on the candidacy.

On whether Ramkarpal's name is on the list of short-listed candidates, Jagdeep ( left ) declined to comment.

"Our stand is to let the party decide who would be candidate," he said.

Although still grieving over the lost of their father, Jagdeep said he was prepared to face the coming by-election, which Karpal won handsomely with a 41,778 vote-majority against MCA's Teh Beng Yeam in the May 5 polls last year.

"We have to get up and move on for the sake of Karpal," he added.

The Election Commission has fixed nomination day on May 12 and MCA is determined to put up a challenge although several of its allies have begged to differ, saying DAP might win with a bigger majority due to sympathy votes for  Karpal.

But DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng is bracing himself for a challenge, saying the party cannot take the situation for granted, as Karpal is "unreplaceable".

Karpal, 74 and his helper Michael Cornelius, 39, died in a car crash near Guar Tempurung, Perak, on April 17, while travelling from Kuala Lumpur to Penang, on the North-South highway.

Ramkarpal was also in the car as both father and son had planned to appear in the High Court for a murder case on the next day, Friday.

Avoid allegations of nepotism

Speculation is rife that Ramkarpal would be the choice candidate for Bukit Gelugor as Karpal had reportedly revealed his succession plan to New Zealand journalist Tim Donoghue, the author of the 2013 biography, " Karpal Singh – Tiger of Jelutong " as the veteran lawyer was then facing a charge under the Sedition Act.

He was eventually fined RM4,000 on March 11 but died before he could submit an appeal to the Federal Court to overturn the Court of Appeal decision.

A party member, who declined to be named, said while everyone respected Karpal for his phenomenal contribution to the country, it is best to let another DAP leader contest the seat to avoid charges of nepotism.

"There is already an unkind perception that DAP is the acronym for 'Daddy-Anak (children) Party' and not Democratic Action Party," he said.

Several other names, including Penang Municipal Councillors, Jagdeep and the chief minister's youngest sister Lim Hui Ying were rumoured to be on the list.

Hui Ying, who is the party's state committee secretary, had always declined to contest, including in the 13th general election and is unlikely to agree to the candidacy this time.

It is not possible for Jagdeep, who is state executive councillor of housing, to be picked to contest either, as Karpal had always fought against DAP candidates claiming more than one seat, with the only exception he allowed for was Guan Eng due to his chief minister's post.

Penang PRM president Gary Nair expressed hope that whoever the CEC picked as candidate for the seat, the person would be "capable and qualified".

"There can never be another Karpal, that is for sure but at least, we have to find someone who can live up to his standard, someone who is capable and qualified enough to carry on his work, to raise national issues in Parliament just as Karpal had done," he added.