Karpal’s children head DAP list

GEORGE TOWN: DAP is expected to field either Ramkarpal Singh or Sangeet Kaur as its candidate in the Bukit Gelugor parliamentary by-election following the death of incumbent MP Karpal Singh.

Ramkarpal, 38, and Sangeet, 34, both lawyers, are the third and fourth children of Karpal who died in a road accident on Thursday.

But party leaders are tight-lipped, saying the candidate would be chosen by DAP’s central executive committee (CEC).

The Election Commission is expected to announce the nomination and polling dates tomorrow.

An online news portal reported that Karpal had wanted Ramkarpal to succeed him should he be sentenced to jail for sedition.

This was disclosed by New Zealand jour­nalist Tim Donoghue, the author of the 2013 biography Karpal Singh – Tiger of Jelutong.

A Chinese daily reported instead that Sangeet was slated for the seat based on her public appeal.

Other names being speculated are Penang Municipal councillors Gooi Seong Kin and Harvindar Singh, both state DAP committee members.

While Gooi has contested in previous ­general elections and lost, Harvindar is seen as part of the family although he is not a relation.

Another possibility is former DAP election publicity chief Hew Kuan Yau, better known as “Superman”.

Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow said it was up to the CEC to make a decision on the candidate.

“We will only make a recommendation if requested to do so,” he said.

Penang DAP assistant publicity secretary Ng Wei Aik said the CEC would convene tomorrow night to prepare for the by-election.

A state DAP leader said he did not think Ramkarpal or Sangeet would be chosen as they were not active in the party.

“The CEC may pick a national leader with a proven track record. It is not necessary that the person should be a Penangite,” he said.