PUTRAJAYA: The daughter of late DAP stalwart Datuk Seri Karpal Singh has made a pointed call for the party to “seriously reassess” its relationship with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, accusing him of dividing coalition partners and empowering Umno.
Kuala Lumpur DAP delegate Sangeet Kaur Deo said that during the debate at the party’s national congress here on Saturday (Aug 16), as she questioned whether DAP could continue working effectively with its partners in the unity government.
“My question is this: I ask our Central Executive Committee (CEC) to seriously reassess our relationship with Anwar Ibrahim.
“Instead of bringing the coalition partners together, what has he done? He has divided us, pitted one against another and empowered Umno. Why? We cannot afford to ignore that,” she said.
Sangeet also claimed Malaysia had become increasingly divided along racial lines under the current administration and alleged that corruption-related controversies had escalated despite the government coming to power on a reform platform.
She cited Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi’s discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) on 47 charges, as well as controversies involving institutions such as the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Sangeet claimed DAP leaders in Cabinet had raised such concerns internally, including over the alleged “corporate mafia” scandal.
She also questioned DAP’s ability to work with Umno, claiming the party continued to openly attack DAP at the federal level despite both being part of the same administration.
However, Sangeet stopped short of calling for DAP to leave the government, arguing instead that the party should use the remaining 18 months of the term to regain its voice and credibility.
“The bottom line is: We stay, but for a different reason,” she said.
She argued that DAP should not justify remaining in government solely on the basis that it could still deliver the reforms it had long promised, saying that if those reforms could have been achieved under the present arrangement, they would have been implemented by now.
Perak DAP delegate and Astaka assemblyman Jason Ng Thien Yeong also urged the party to remain in government for the rest of the term while continuing to push Anwar to fulfil promised reforms.
“We need to remain in government for the remaining 18 months. Stay until the end of the term,” he said, adding that leaving the government could further disappoint voters and potentially benefit DAP’s political rivals.
“We call on our leaders and PMX, Anwar Ibrahim, to implement the reforms that have been promised to the people.
