New access road named after Patto heralded

THE state DAP welcomes a move by the Penang state government to name a newly-built access road in Mak Mandin, Butterworth, after the party’s illustrious leader, the late P. Patto.

DAP national vice-chairman and Ipoh Barat MP M. Kulasegaran said the party supported the initiative mooted by Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

“The Penang state government’s decision is the right tribute to Patto.

“Patto is a great political fighter who had made much sacrifices and contributions to the nation and Malaysians,” he said.

Kulasegaran said it was unfortunate that the plan by Pakatan Rakyat in Perak to name a road in Ipoh after Patto in 2008 did not materialise after the coalition lost the state government to the Barisan Nasional.

“We hope to do so in the next general election if we regain power,” he said, adding that Patto should be honoured with a road named after him in Perak where he was born.

At the height of his political career, Patto was state assemblyman for Gopeng and MP for Menglembu, both in Perak, and later Bagan MP in Penang.

In the party, he rose to become deputy secretary-general and had served as national organising secretary, editor of Rocket, Dapsy national secretary and Perak chairman.

In 1987, Patto was among several DAP MPs who were detained under the Internal Security Act during the infamous Operasi Lalang.

He died of a heart failure at the Ipoh Hospital on July 12, 1995.