Gobind insists Charles knew about '2018 final outing'

Selangor DAP chief Gobind Singh Deo has insisted that incumbent Klang MP Charles Santiago was made known of the decision to make 2018 his last term for the parliamentary seat.

According to him, Charles had met him twice previously to seek support for defending the Klang parliamentary seat.

"My position remains. Charles met me in 2013 and 2018 for support for his candidature in Klang.

"It was clear then that there were calls for him to be replaced. I supported him nevertheless and he was given the opportunity to carry on," Gobind said in a statement today.

He was referring to the remark by Charles earlier today that there were no arrangements nor any indication that 2018 would be the last term he would be fielded for the Klang parliamentary seat.

In saying so, Charles said that the statement by DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke that he (Charles) was in the know of the decision, was an "afterthought" to mitigate the huge backlash over his replacement in the 15th general election (GE15) candidates list.

'Not an easy decision'

According to Gobind, he told Charles in 2018 that it would be difficult for him to carry on beyond that term, and as such, it would be his last.

"It is a fact that there have been calls for his replacement and he is well aware of this, and the reasons for it.

"This was also again made known to him in my office last week and discussed between us.

"As I said earlier, this wasn't an easy decision to make, but we have after considering the position, made a decision and it remains," Gobind added.

Despite his exclusion from the GE15 candidacy list, Charles said that he was betting on Harapan to win the general election.

Earlier this week, DAP announced that Kota Kemuning assemblyperson V Ganabatirau would replace Charles as the candidate for Klang in GE15, after weeks of speculation.

Following the announcement, Charles urged his supporters to rally behind his replacement, Ganabatirau, to ensure a victory for Harapan.

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