EC starts probe on DAP campaign style

DAP's style of campaigning in Bukit Gelugor by using the portrait of Karpal Singh in banners has not gone down well with the rivals.

GEORGE TOWN: The Election Commission (EC) has started investigating several complaints on the DAP campaign style of projecting the late Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh as the candidate for the parliamentary constituency.

State EC deputy director Mohd Faiz Syaswan Zainal Abidin said he had received several complaints on Karpal’s portrait used in posters and banners depicting him as a candidate.

Mohd Faiz told FMT that he would probe and take action if the DAP was found to have breached election campaign rules.

The DAP posters and banners have depicted Karpal as the party candidate rather than his son Ramkarpal Singh Deo, 38.

A random check in the constituency showed that DAP had put up many election billboards and banners with portraits of Karpal using the tagline “I am Karpal Singh” in English, Malay, Tamil and Chinese.

The election materials have also depicted pictures of Ramkarpal and several unknown individuals of all ethnic groups.

Malaysia Tourist and Travellers Association pro tem chairman Syed Kamarul Sufian, 40, and Parti Cinta Malaysia (PCM) vice-president Huan Cheng Guan’s aide T Thirunyanesambathan, 34, have also questioned the DAP style of campaigning.

They said the banners with large portraits of Karpal Singh and unknown individuals would mislead and confuse voters.

Thirunyanesambathan said they wanted the EC to probe and clarify whether this style of campaigning was allowed under the election laws.

Syed Kamarul also asked if the DAP feared losing in its so-called fortress Bukit Gelugor by embarking on a “I am Karpal Singh” propaganda blitz.

“DAP is exploiting and capitalising on Karpal’s legacy to confuse the people, voters and tourists as well.

“The party should not abuse Karpal’s name for selfish political gains,” said Syed Kamarul.

Not banking on sympathy votes

However, Ramkarpal denied he was stirring the “Karpal sentiment” to woo sympathy votes but acknowledged that it was difficult for him to come out from his father’s shadow.

“I cannot detach myself as even my name is part of my father’s. I don’t see anything wrong in continuing his legacy.

“People can say whatever they want but I am comfortable in carrying on my father’s tradition,” Ramkarpal told newsmen during a walkabout in Seri Delima today.

Favourite Ramkarpal faces Huan, 53, and, independent candidates lawyer Abu Backer Sidek Mohamad Zan, 46, and Mohamed Nabi Bux Mohamed Abdul Sathar, 63, in a four-cornered fight for Bukit Gelugor.

The federal seat fell vacant after Karpal was killed in an accident on the North-South Highway near Kampar, Perak, on April 17.

The latest Election Commission data shows Bukit Gelugor has 82,431 voters comprising 61,267 (74.33%) Chinese, 11,913 (14.46%) Malays, 8,848 (10.73%), Indians and 403 (0.49%) others.

The late Karpal polled 55,839 votes to score a majority victory of 41,778 votes against Barisan Nasional candidate Teh Beng Yeam, who could just garner 14,061 votes, in the 2013 general election.