GEORGE TOWN: As discontent follows the announcement of the Penang DAP candidates’ list, a well-known grassroots leader of the party has vowed to stand as an Independent.
David Marshel (pic), 47, who has been with DAP for 15 years and served 10 terms as a councillor in the Seberang Prai City Council on the mainland, said he had sent in his resignation as a city councillor.
“I will contest in the state election as an Independent in Perai.
“I have the support of a number of NGOs, which have pledged to back me.
“The party seems to be giving opportunities to the ‘rich’ and not to those who have toiled for the community for years,” Marshel said when contacted yesterday.
He is known to be a close confidant of former three-term Perai assemblyman and Deputy Chief Minister ll Dr P. Ramasamy, who has not been renominated as a candidate.
The party has instead decided to field former EcoWorld Development Group deputy chief executive officer Datuk Seri S. Sundarajoo for the seat.
Another state leader, Penang DAP Socialist Youth committee member Kogilan Mahendran, asked why a three-term senior party leader was not dropped if the party was removing long-serving assemblymen as part of a renewal and rejuvenation process.
“Leaders who work hard for the people in the state have been sidelined with the party bringing in unknowns to contest,” said Kogilan, 28.
On Tuesday, after naming the candidates in Penang, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke said those who contest as Independents would automatically cease to be party members.
“There are many who want to be candidates but we can’t accommodate everyone, which is normal in every political party.
“We have spoken to them, explained to them, met them and told them of our decision and they have accepted and respected our decision,” he told reporters
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