KUALA LUMPUR, 28 Dec 2008: MIC president Datuk Seri S Samy Vellu today labelled DAP chairperson and Bukit Gelugor Member of Parliament (MP) Karpal Singh a “toothless tiger” for pledging DAP’s support for PAS in the 17 Jan 2009 Kuala Terengganu by-election.
“The tiger (Karpal) appears to have surrendered to PAS,” said Samy Vellu in a statement, referring to the conflicting views between DAP and PAS on the implementation of an Islamic state and hudud.
Karpal, nicknamed the “Tiger of Jelutong” when he was an MP for that constituency, has strongly opposed both.
Although DAP and PAS do not agree on these two issues, they are part of Pakatan Rakyat, the opposition pact which also includes Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
PAS will name its nominated candidate for the by-election on 1 Jan 2009, and all three opposition parties have vowed to work together to wrest the seat from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN).
Yesterday, Samy Vellu challenged Opposition Leader and PKR adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to publicly state his stand on PAS’s intention to pursue the implementation of the Islamic penal code.
“Karpal should be consistent with his stand (on hudud) and not become a puppet of PAS.
“This (the agreement to work together to win the seat) indicates that he (Karpal) and his party (DAP) will give in and abandon their principles for the sake of ensuring a victory for the opposition candidate,” the MIC president said.
He said the DAP owed an explanation to the people, especially the Chinese community, on the party’s conflicting views on hudud.
“Karpal should also not allow his credibility to be lost amongst Indian (Malaysian) voters who voted for him in the last general election,” he added. — Bernama
