Ramasamy explains viral comment on lack of Indian DAP candidates (in Johor polls)

Ramasamy explains viral comment on lack of Indian DAP candidates


JOHOR POLLS | BN-linked social media groups have circulated a screen capture of Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy over his public Facebook comment about the limited Indian representation among DAP candidates in the Johor polls.

When contacted about the comment, which had since been deleted, the DAP leader explained that he was only conveying the concerns raised by others, and it was intended to be a private conversation.

The comment, which read, "They should have given Indians at least three seats", was left on a social media poster of DAP's 15 candidates in the Johor polls.

"Basically, there were some concerns raised as to why there is only one Indian candidate. Because there was talk about giving two candidates, this was the discussion, some people were not happy, and they called me up.

"I was not part of the decision-making. I found out who the candidates were (on nomination day), so that's how the discussion came about," he told Malaysiakini.

He said the comment, ending up publicly on social media, was a mistake. He added that it was meant to be sent on WhatsApp but was erroneously posted on Facebook.

DAP's sole Indian candidate is M Kanan, who will be fielded in Bekok. He replaced the DAP incumbent S Ramakrishnan.

Likewise, the party also fielded one Indian candidate for a Johor state seat in the 2018 general election.

Indians make up approximately six percent of the Johor population.