GEORGE TOWN, July 26 – Penang DAP deputy chief P Ramasamy is reported to have been excluded from the party’s list of candidates for the upcoming state election scheduled for August 12. The deputy chief minister, who has represented the Perai constituency for three terms since 2008, will not be contesting in the election, according to a source. Another assemblyman, M Satees, will also not be defending his Bagan Dalam seat.
The party is expected to announce its final list of candidates later today. When asked for a response, Ramasamy urged to wait for the official announcement. Sources suggest that Sundarajoo, a former chief operating officer of Ecoworld Development Sdn Bhd with more than 31 years of experience in the property industry, will replace Ramasamy as the candidate for the Perai constituency. There are speculations that the post of deputy chief minister may be filled by Jagdeep Singh Deo if Pakatan Harapan/Barisan Nasional wins the state election.
Jagdeep has held the Datok Keramat seat since 2008 and is expected to defend it in the upcoming polls. This development is likely to mark the end of Ramasamy’s political career, who has been a prominent figure in Penang politics and was the first Indian deputy chief minister in the country. Having been an academic at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia before joining the DAP in 2005, Ramasamy has played a significant role in the party and served the community in Penang.
In another related development, former Pulau Tikus assemblyman Chris Lee has withdrawn from the upcoming state election citing health concerns related to hyperthyroidism and family obligations as reasons for his decision. Lee had won the Pulau Tikus state seat in the 2018 election with a significant margin of 9,245 votes against candidates from Gerakan and the Malaysian United Party.
