'Disgruntled DAP members may be behind letters in Mahkota'

Amid an uproar over alleged poison pen letters urging Chinese voters to reject Umno’s candidate in Mahkota, former Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy suggested it could have come from disgruntled DAP members.

Ramasamy (above), a former DAP member, claimed that local DAP factions may be unhappy with the party’s evolving ties with its former rival, Umno.

“These groups may be unhappy with the DAP’s partnership with Umno and are seeking to exert pressure, possibly to push for a unity government in Johor or voice opposition to this alliance.

“While the DAP leadership may not be directly involved, disgruntled local members could be behind the toxic letters,” he said in a statement today.

Trading barbs

Two days ago, DAP MP Wong Shu Qi alleged that letters were put in mailboxes urging Chinese voters to reject Umno’s candidate Syed Hussien Syed Abdullah.

The Kluang lawmaker said the letters were in Chinese and titled “A call to voters in the Mahkota by-election: We hope to see fair treatment for all people in Johor”.

The letters were signed “The people of Kluang, Johor, and Pakatan Harapan supporter Lin Wei Jie”.

Wong then claimed that it was possibly a psychological operation orchestrated by PN and condemned it as a “dirty tactic”.

The next day, Bersatu information committee member Badrul Hisham Shaharin dismissed Wong’s allegations.

“You (DAP) want to drag us in a game. But we’re not interested. We are very busy with the people’s issues.

“Today we demand an apology from the DAP Kluang MP,” he was reported as saying.

‘Pointless to vote Umno’

Ramasamy, who is also the pro tem chairperson of United for the Rights of Malaysians Party (Urimai), said for many Chinese voters in Mahkota, voting for Umno may seem pointless given its track record of marginalising minorities.

He also claimed that the sentiment is likely stronger among Indian voters there, who make up about eight percent of the electorate.

“And the demoralisation of MIC within BN has left little reason for the Indian community to back Umno, and groups like Urimai may encourage Indians to reject the party entirely,” Ramasamy added.

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