PRAI: Former three-term Perai assemblyman, Dr P. Ramasamy, has resigned from DAP.
The 74-year-old announced this at a press conference at his former service centre here today.
"I wish to inform the press and friends that I am forced to take a difficult decision in my more than 15 years of political life.
"After lengthy consultations with family members and close friends, I have decided to resign my membership from DAP that I joined 18 years ago in 2005," he said.
Besides Ramasamy, former Sabai assemblyman D. Kamache, DAP Socialist Youth vice-chief K. Jason Raj and DAP Taman Inderawasih branch member K. Krishnasamy also quit the party.
Ramasamy said he sent his resignation letter to party secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook and Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow this morning.
Before his resignation, Ramasamy was chairman of the DAP Chai Leng Park branch and Penang DAP committee deputy chairman.
After he won the Batu Kawan parliamentary seat and Perai state seat in the 2008 general election, he was made deputy chief minister II, a post he held for three terms (15 years).
Ramasamy was dropped in this state election.
Ramasamy said, over the last few years, a lot of compromises had been made, diluting the struggle of the party.
"Holding on to power and positions seems to be the preoccupation of some party leaders.
"DAP that I knew when I joined in 2005 is not there.
"The decision to leave DAP is a difficult one. I identified with the party during my days at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) long before I joined the party in 2005.
"The party is no more the party that I knew in those days. There is less and less appreciation of dissent and openness in the party.
"Those who voice out against the government are looked upon as troublemakers and mischief makers," he added.
Ramasamy said it was the party's right to drop him and five others from contesting the state election.
He, however, said in the name of rejuvenation, what took place was a political purge.
"I can understand why senior leaders were dropped but not the younger ones.
"The party informed me that I will be dropped after the decision was made on July 18.
"There was no reason why three young candidates such as Yeoh Soon Hin, Soon Lip Chee and M. Satees were dropped. Yeoh and Soon were former state executive council members while Satees was the former Bagan Dalam assemblyman.
"This was not a rejuvenation nor a revitalisation exercise but a political purge to sideline those who were seen or imagined as supporters of caretaker Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow," he added.
Ramasamy also revealed that Chow might be renominated as the chief minister but he had no support in the DAP's line-up.
He said there was a chance he might not hold the position for too long despite assurances from national leaders.
"The deceitful purge was endorsed by the national leaders.
"The individual who is infamously dubbed as the 'emperor' is the source of the present and ongoing crisis in Penang DAP. The national leadership seems to be beholden to this person or 'emperor'.
"The list of candidates submitted by Chow as head of the five-man state committee was brushed aside.
"There are some good leaders in DAP but the slide towards mediocrity and appeasement seems inevitable. It is no wonder that DAP has been described as a party taking the road of MCA or MIC," he added.
Ramasamy also said that a few months ago, when he brought up the issue of lack of participation of non-Malays in the country's civil service, the party leadership distanced themselves from his statement.
He said the statement was considered harmful to the newly formed unity government.
He noted that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim himself dismissed his statement as a personal remark.
Ramasamy said he was mindful that he might be called a sour grape for quitting the party.
"But I have no choice but to take a firm decision to chart my political course in the future.
"As I said, dropping me was not an issue but it was the manner in which I and others were dropped. It was simply a lack of dignified exit.
"By resigning from the DAP, I hope to function in the larger political environment without the constraints of being a member of a political party or organisation.
"I realised that DAP might not be the place for me in the future. I need to make some bold plans as to my role in the larger Malaysian political arena.
"I will continue to fight and struggle against injustice, discrimination and oppression against all Malaysians irrespective of their race and religion. I will continue to speak up for the subaltern sections of the society," he said.
Ramasamy said his dream was to make Malaysia a better place for everyone to ensure the future was well secured for the future generations.
"I look forward to the day. I may not be around when Malaysians are proud to pronounce that the country belongs to all," he said.
Meanwhile, Ramasamy said he would continue to support the political coalition of Pakatan Harapan in general and the leadership of Anwar and Chow.
Following his departure from DAP, Ramasamy today helped independent candidates M. Satees for the Bagan Dalam state seat and David Marshel for the Perai state seat to campaign.
Both Satees and David quit DAP prior to nomination day and announced their decision to stand as independent candidates.
Ramasamy is often seen as a "liability" to DAP as he often speaks "the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth".
More on P. Ramasamy:
* Born on May 10, 1949 (aged 74)
* Before entering politics, Ramasamy was a professor at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), from which he retired in May 2005
*He later took up teaching positions in Germany and Singapore
* Joined DAP in 2005
* Batu Kawan member of parliament from March 8, 2008 to May 5, 2013 (defeated former Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon)
* Perai state assemblyman from March 8, 2008 until Aug 12, 2023
* Penang deputy chief minister II - March 13, 2008 until Aug 12, 2023