GE15: Dropping Santiago not an afterthought, insists Gobind

PETALING JAYA: Incumbent Klang MP Charles Santiago was repeatedly told he would not be fielded in the 15th General Election (GE15), says DAP national deputy chairman Gobind Singh.

The Puchong MP also said he had told Santiago only last week that he was to be replaced and there should be no question that the decision not to field him was "an afterthought".

"My position remains.

"Santiago met me in 2013 and 2018 for support for his candidature in Klang.

"It was clear then that there were calls for him to be replaced. I supported him nevertheless and he was given the opportunity to carry on.

"In 2018, I did tell him that it would be difficult to carry on after that and that 2018 would be the last.

"I acknowledge and appreciate the fact that Charles has been magnanimous but to say this is an afterthought isn't correct," said Gobind, when contacted.

He was refuting the statement by Santiago on Friday (Oct 28) that he was never told the 14th General Election would be the last time he would stand in the Klang parliamentary seat.

Gobind said he met Santiago at the latter's office last week and explained that there had been calls to replace him.

"He is well aware of (the calls) and the reasons.

"This was again told to him in my office last week.

"As I said earlier, it wasn't an easy decision to make but we have... made one, and it stands," he said.

Santiago, a long-time DAP member, held the Klang seat for three terms before DAP decided to drop him in GE15.