Put a lid on it- Karpal tells Chandra, Keadilan

comments     Yap Mun Ching     Published     Updated

Less than two weeks after inviting former Keadilan deputy president Dr Chandra Muzaffar to join DAP, Karpal Singh today reprimanded him for raising party matters in public.

As a matter of principle, when one has to leave a political party, there must be restraint over revealing publicly any misunderstanding or shortcomings of the party or its leaders, said Karpal in a press statement.

The DAP deputy chairperson was referring to the ongoing verbal salvo between Keadilan leaders and Chandra.

On March 2, Karpal urged Chandra to join DAP and praised him for saying he joined Keadilan because of principles and would not be part of anything that troubled his conscience.

The invitation was later declined by Chandra.

Meanwhile, Karpal also criticised Keadilan leaders for attacking Chandra and revealing his perceived shortcomings.

Comparing the relationship between Chandra and Keadilan to that of a divorced couple, Karpal said events that happened during the union must remain sacrosanct and beyond public knowledge.

The veteran politician also expressed concern that Barisan Nasional may exploit the bickering to its own benefit for the upcoming Ketari by-election in Pahang.

The by-election to be held on March 31, will see a straight fight between Gerakans Yum Ah Ha and DAPs Choong Siew Oon. The seat fell vacant following the death of Loke Koon Kam of Gerakan.

Chandra should not supply cannon fodder to Barisan Nasional in the form of public revelations either directly or by implication of what transpired in Keadilan when he was deputy president which is a position of no mean rank, said Karpal.

I hope...both Chandra and Keadilan leaders will put a lid on what should not be accessible to all and sundry. The larger interests of the opposition in the public interest should not be forgotten, he added.

Disillusioned leader

Chandra laid the foundation for the controversy when he criticised the Keadilan leadership during a forum organised by DAP in Penang early this month.

In reply to a question on his reasons for quitting Keadilan, Chandra had said he was disillusioned with the party and claimed its leaders practised the concept of the ends justify the means.

This prompted Keadilan vice-president Azmin Ali to say that Chandra quit the party in January because his views and comments in the party were not welcomed by the members.

Chandra then accused Azmin of being a liar and this saw Keadilan deputy Youth chief Mohamad Zahid Md Arif threatening to expose Chandra if he continued to malign the party and its leaders.

Yesterday, Chandra dismissed the threat as being infantile and challenged Zahid to expose him.

He also criticised jailed ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim and Keadilan president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail for their lack of earnestness in resolving problems of transparency, accountability and financial management within the party.

Number two

Meanwhile in a statement later today, Zahid claimed Chandra felt bitter about the party as he could not accept the fate of being the number two person.

It is a known fact among party members that Chandra, in his comments, had often hinted that the party was in need of a new leadership, said Zahid in reference to Chandras alleged dissatisfaction with Wan Azizahs presidency.

Chandra also received a lashing from former Keadilan supreme council member Marina Yusof yesterday who accused him of dividing the party.

According to her, Chandra was manipulative, authoritarian and a dismal failure in politics.

When met at Parliament today, Wan Azizah said Chandra was entitled to express his opinions of Keadilan and that both she and Anwar appreciated Chandras contribution to the party.



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