BUKIT GELUGOR Ramkarpal Singh stunned the crowd at a dinner event last night when he suddenly quipped that perhaps, after the Bukit Gelugor by-election, DAP Wanita could help him find a woman.

 

"I am single. Perhaps, after Bukit Gelugor, my next campaign should be to find the woman behind the man," he said to cheers from the crowd attending DAP Wanita's 'Gender equality, progress for all' dinner in Penang last night.

 

"I do believe, behind any man or a great man, there is a greater woman," he added to loud applause from the 800-odd audience at the Han Chiang College Hall.

 

This was Ramkarpal's appreciation and thanks to his women comrades in the DAP who stood behind him in his campaign.

The bachelor, however, clarified on Facebook today that he was not currently looking for a wife.

"What I meant was that behind every man there is a great woman and for now I'm very contented and have to focus on my work.

Dashing hopes, he added: "I am in no hurry to get married."

 

Ramkarpal is challenging Parti Cinta Malaysia's Huan Cheng Guan ( right ) and two independent candidates - Abu Backer Sidek Mohd Zan and Mohd Nabi Bux Mohd Nabi Sathar for the urban seat, with polling day set for Sunday, May 25.

 

Ramkarpal said the 13-day gruelling campaign from day to night, would not have been the same without the DAP women, adding that he had seen how the wing had progressed much further than its other Pakatan Rakyat allies.

 

"Their support for me during the Bukit Gelugor election campaign has been tremendous, even fantastic, to say the least. This shows how important DAP Wanita is," he asserted.

 

He specifically mentioned state secretary Lim Hooi Ying, the woman who practically organised his entire campaign.

 

Among those present at the dinner were Chief Minister and DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, state chief Chow Kon Yeow, state Wanita chief Chong Eng, and several women MPs and assemblywomen.

 

On a more serious note, Ramkarpal recalled that last night was the one month death anniversary,  of his father, Karpal Singh, who died in a tragic car crash along the North-South Highway in Perak, to leave the Bukit Gelugor seat vacant.

 

Fielding Dyana significant

Ramkarpal said even though Karpal is no longer around, he would have been very happy to see the DAP field Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud, 27, as the Teluk Intan candidate.

 

"I say this because he had very high regards in the potential of women, that I saw in the confidence he had for my sister, Sangeet Kaur, a practicing lawyer in Kuala Lumpur," he said.

 

"Fielding Dyana Sofya ( right ) in Teluk Intan is significant as she was chosen not on gender but merit," he added.

 

Dyana Sofya is set to challenge Gerakan president Mah Siew Kong, 53, in Teluk Intan, with nomination day tomorrow, and polling on May 31.

 

Ramkarpal said he saw the potential in the political secretary to Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang after having the privilege to meet her, adding that the DAP valued it's women members.

 

"The spirit that there can no longer be any discrimination against gender is one of the principles that made me believe in the DAP's struggles.

 

"I hope this spirit will be reflected in Dyana Sofya's chances of victory in Teluk Intan," he added.

 

Ramkarpal said that the days of male domination are long gone as the world has seen women leaders in Europe and Asian countries.

 

There is now little difference between men and women. Indeed in his campaign, he noted many women raised the same issues as their male counterparts.

 

"There should be no difference as far as opportunities and positions are concerned for men and women. That to me is the way forward," he added.