Is Karpal Right?

The Star 24 Dec 2012

Karpal Singh is not known as the Tiger of Jelutong for nothing. In DAP, he is the chairman and the lion who speaks up fearlessly on issues of public concern like Pas's call for the implementation of hudud.

He is a top legal eagle and a fearless advocate.

Despite his fame and busy schedule, Karpal is basically a principled, down-to-earth and humble guy. He never fails to return your greeting with a smile or a "good morning!"

Even in the courts, though he may be forceful and notwithstanding his long years of experience, he is always respectful towards to the bench, even to the "lowly" magistrate.

Such is the stature of the man,

Karpal is not in favour of a DAP member being both a state assemblyman and member of parliament. This, to me, makes eminent good sense, especially now that there are many capable men in the party.

We want our elected representatives (YBs) to focus on their job and not have to juggle their duties between the state assembly and parliament. So, it is hard to understand why some DAP members are not happy about this.

Karpal also is against serving DAP elected representatives accepting state awards like the datukship. Again, this makes good sense.

We don't want our YBs to be concerned whether they will be conferred titles or not. We don't want them to be perceived to be only interested to be called "datuk' or "tan sri" or "tun"

We don't want Umno's culture of clamouring for titles and prestige. We don't want what has happened in Umno, where everyone and anyone who is someone (or not) is ether a "datuk" or a 'tan sri" or a "tun"

We also don't want our YBs to feel obliged or beholden or be perceived to be so. No offence meant to anyone though.

We just want our elected representatives to do their job, and do it well and conscientiously. And for this, you don't have to be a titled personage.

Is Lim Guan Eng failing in his job as the chief minister of Penang, being just plain Lim Guan Eng? No, I think he is doing pretty well, as the chief minister, being just plain Lim Guan Eng.

In fact, we don't want a Datuk Lim Guan Eng. The moment he becomes a datuk, the whole gestalt changes for everyone and the public's perception of him changes, rightly or wrongly.

So, Datuk Teng Chang Khim, you thought that Karpal should not be

harping on matters which were of no significance to DAP's political and social agenda

Think again, DAP's significance is for the public to judge. The moment the public don't see the party in good light, all the king's men and all the king's horses won't be able to save the party.

A MERRY Christmas & A HAPPY New Year to everyone!