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KUALA LUMPUR – Charles Santiago, who was dropped as a candidate for the 15th general election (GE15), has hit out at DAP leaders who claimed he had been informed earlier of the party’s intention to not field him.
In a statement, the Klang incumbent said the claims, which have tarnished his integrity, were merely made to counter public brickbats against DAP’s decision to overlook him as a candidate.
This follows separate statements by DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke and deputy chairman Gobind Singh Deo claiming that there has been an understanding that the 2018 general election would be Santiago’s last election.
“Let me make this clear; DAP never informed me that 2018 would be the last time I would be fielded as a candidate.
“There were no such arrangements and no indication about calls to replace me in 2013 or 2018, as suggested by Gobind.
“These narratives are an afterthought to mitigate the huge backlash that we are seeing, even before the official candidate list was announced.
“I am glad that both Loke and Gobind have recognised the magnanimity in which I have accepted the party’s decision but it’s unfortunate that they are resorting to such responses given the massive public criticism.”
Speculations that Santiago would be dropped by DAP surfaced in recent weeks, triggering responses from various groups demanding the party to field him for the Klang seat.
Many highlighted his performance and contribution during his three terms as an MP there.
His fate was confirmed when DAP announced a handful of its candidates for Selangor, with incumbent Kota Kemuning assemblyman Ganabatirau Veraman being given the nod to contest in Klang.
In an immediate response, Gobind had said that there have been proposals to field a new face in Klang from as early as 2013, and that Santiago himself was fully aware of such requests.
Separately, Loke told Malaysiakini in an interview that the party had already agreed that the 2018 polls would be Santiago’s last, with the matter also supposedly having been conveyed to him.
Unimpressed, Santiago today said it is unbecoming of both these leaders to hint that they were merely doing him a favour by allowing him to continue serving in Klang until the end of the current term despite not holding any party position.
“It’s just too painful for me to write this, because I am determined to ensure a Pakatan Harapan (PH) victory in this general election and would like to see the DAP do well at the polls.
“But this is about my integrity and issues need to be clarified. I will not be commenting about my candidacy anymore and I again appeal to the people of Klang to vote in a PH government.”
Santiago added that his sole intention when he first joined politics was to advance the agenda of the people and to give voice to those who could not speak for themselves.
“DAP was the platform I chose, and it has been the best platform for me to do so, for which I am forever grateful. I was not in politics to build my faction.”
Meanwhile, Bentong incumbent MP and DAP member Wong Tack said it is “inaccurate” to say that he was not dropped as a candidate.
His statement highlighted that Pahang DAP on October 16 decided to remove him from Bentong, and the party later told him to not contest any seat in Pahang.
“I am to disappear from Pahang completely.”
He added that the Cameron Highlands offer came after backlash from the grassroots.
Two days ago, Wong said he would defend the Bentong seat as an independent.
Today, DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke reportedly said Wong’s membership would be automatically revoked if he contested as an independent.
DAP had picked incumbent Ketari assemblyman Young Syefura Othman to run in Bentong and Chiong Yoke Kong for Cameron Highlands. – The Vibes, October 28, 2022