The recent brouhaha over the decision by DAP to drop Charles Santiago from contesting in the Klang parliamentary constituency appears to have developed into an Achilles heel for the party, even before campaigning for GE15 kicks off.
News of Santiago being dropped and replaced by DAP Kota Kemuning assemblyman V. Ganabatirau on Wednesday, sent mixed signals as electorates questioned DAP’s rationale, given Santiago was likable and had performed as a people’s representative.
While some have concluded that this was the end of the road for Santiago, a DAP party insider has hinted that it may not be over for the 61-year-old.
“On nomination day, you will see that this issue will be resolved,” said the insider.
Despite being pressed, the DAP insider declined to confirm if this meant that the party would field Santiago to contest in another seat.
Following DAP’s decision to not field Santiago in Klang, the party’s Selangor chairman, Gobind Singh Deo, said Santiago was fully aware that there had been requests for him to be replaced, since 2013.
DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke was also quoted as saying that the party had agreed that the 2018 election was going to be the last time Santiago would contest in Klang.
Yesterday, Santiago hit back at Gobind and Loke, claiming that the narratives by the duo “were an afterthought to mitigate the huge backlash that we are seeing, even before the official candidates’ list was announced”.
“Please don’t tarnish my integrity (in attempting) to manage the backlash. There were no such arrangements and no indication of calls to replace me (or who made those calls) in 2013 or 2018, as suggested by Selangor DAP chairman, Gobind Singh Deo,” said Santiago.
“These narratives are an afterthought to mitigate the huge backlash that we are seeing, even before the official candidate list was announced.
He added: “And even if the backlash freaked them out, it’s unbecoming of both Loke and Gobind to hint that they were doing me a favour by allowing me to continue as a lawmaker, given that I do not hold positions in the party,” he added.
Another senior DAP insider told Twentytwo13 that the decision to not field Santiago in Klang was nothing “unusual.”
“Leaders come and go. We have people from all age groups. This is what makes a party.
“There’s always a reason why certain incumbent MPs are not fielded, or are retired from politics. It is a normal process … nothing unusual.”
However, another DAP member, who requested anonymity, said Santiago “was not a party man”.
“One cannot be selfish and embark on one’s own personal ambition. You contested under the party’s logo. It was the party that groomed you. One cannot ignore the party or ignore the organisation.
“A party member must be able to strengthen the party. One who unites the party’s grassroots, contributes positively to the party. But he failed in all aspects.”
“The DAP member added: “He (Santiago) is a fantastic speaker and writer. But we have so many others like him.”
He added that Santiago went on to become a three-term MP for DAP despite not being elected to DAP’s state, or central executive committee.
Asked if Santiago had been a “one-man politician” from a party’s point of view, the DAP member said this was not about politicians being given the boot for not toeing the party line.
“We must see things from a broader perspective. One can be an academician, a human rights activist … but politicians have more roles to play. We must be able to contribute much more,” he added.
Santiago, who holds a Masters in Economics from the New School for Social Research in New York, is Asean Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR) chairman. He had previously served as chairman of the National Water Services Commission.
