Penang DAP deputy head P Ramasamy must retract his remark about ‘godfathers in DAP’ and apologise to the national chief Karpal Singh, or face a showdown at the state convention on Sunday.

NONE State committee member RSN Rayer (left) warned that "all hell will break loose" if Ramasamy fails to do so.

Many grassroot leaders and members are upset about the remark, he said, accusing Ramasamy of having forgotten that it is because of Karpal that he is DCM II of Penang.

When Pakatan Rakyat took over Penang in 2008, Ramasamy - the Batu Kawan MP - had "begged" his way to the post, Rayer claimed.

"At that time, Karpal was hospitalised. Ramasamy went to see him and literally begged him to speak to Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng about appointing him to the post," Rayer told an emergency press conference today.

"He was appointed after Karpal spoke to Lim.”

‘Don’t belittle godfathers’

Ramasamy had yesterday said that the DAP should not only rid itself of warlords but godfathers as well. This was in the context of decisions on seat allocations for the 13th general election.

He did not specify who he meant by "godfathers" but several leaders have ticked him off for being "disrespectful" to senior leaders.

NONE Karpal responded by saying that godfathers are necessary as veteran leaders have contributed to the party’s progress.

Rayer said Karpal is one of the most senior Indian Malaysian leader in Penang and Ramasamy "should not show disrespect" to him.

Karpal and DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang are indeed godfathers, noted Rayer, as they have gone through many struggles in the party.

They had also been detained under the draconian Internal Security Act and had been arrested under the Sedition Act.

"Ramasamy has not gone through all this. So do not belittle the godfathers," Rayer added.