Sangeet recalls Karpal's fiery dressing-down of Anwar

Sangeet Kaur Deo has resurfaced a searing moment from 16 years ago when her late father, Karpal Singh, reprimanded Anwar Ibrahim.

She uploaded the video to social media with the pointed caption, “Lest we forget”.

The clip, sourced from Malaysiakini’s coverage from a 2009 press conference, shows the former DAP chairperson lambasting Anwar following Pakatan Rakyat’s collapse in Perak, which occurred after four assemblypersons defected to BN.

“Anwar has created enough trouble for the country. Anwar must repent,” he declared in the video.

Karpal, who was known as the “Tiger of Jelutong”, also censured both PKR and DAP for enabling the culture of defections.

“PKR and DAP have fallen to the temptation and even followed Anwar’s rhetoric in supporting crossovers, and some have not said a word when they ought to have all this while,” he said.

Karpal, who died in a 2014 road accident, had also voiced deep frustration with several DAP leaders whom he believed were complicit in endorsing party-hopping.

“I regret that I have not been able to (garner) support, even from my own party leaders (such as) Lim Kit Siang and Lim Guan Eng.

“They should support me, not make statements supporting Anwar. I request support, I am the DAP chairperson up to now, until I am displaced,” he had said.

A year earlier, following the 2008 general election, Anwar - then opposition leader - claimed he had garnered enough support from defecting government MPs to form a new government and become prime minister, famously declaring he had the “numbers”. However, it never came to fruition.

Crisis of confidence

Sangeet, whose three brothers are DAP lawmakers, offered no explanation for resurfacing the clip, but its timing is unmistakable. It comes right on the heels of Pakatan Harapan’s bruising defeat in the Sabah election and several scandals.

DAP was wiped out in all eight seats it contested, while Harapan’s sole win came through Jamawi Jaafar, an assemblyperson parachuted in from Gagasan Rakyat Sabah (Gagasan).

Yesterday, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke described the outcome of the Sabah election as a “strong and unmistakable message from the voters”, acknowledging a profound crisis of confidence engulfing both DAP and Harapan.

“After thorough reflection, we will compile all feedback received and work closely with the prime minister to accelerate the reform agenda over the next six months,” he said.

The party has faced intensifying criticism from supporters and detractors alike, many of whom claim that DAP has lost its bite under the Madani administration.

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