JOHOR BARU: A 47-year-old DAP life member and two of his family members made the painful decision to quit the party following claims that Gelang Patah member of parliament and party supremo Lim Kit Siang had failed to look into the welfare of its grassroots members.
N Ganesan, who was a die-hard DAP member since 2008, said he is currently unemployed and is facing financial difficulties in obtaining proper treatment for his diabetes as there is also a risk that his left leg will be amputated due to gangrene.
“The reason I’m leaving the DAP is because of my disappointment with the “empty promises” made by my former party comrades from the DAP Taman Universiti (2) branch and also the Gelang Patah member of parliament’s office.
“They had promised to help after my condition worsen early this month, but as of today there is no form of aid from the DAP and also Lim’s (Kit Siang) office,” he said when met in his brother’s home in Taman Universiti here today.
Ganesan, who used to be a Roti Canai maker and has been a diabetic for about 20 years, said he has stopped believing in the DAP leadership and their promises after numerous attempts for financial assistance to treat his condition.
“During the past general election campaign, me and my family went all out to support Lim and the party. But when my family fell on bad times no assistance came from the party,” he said, adding that he, his wife and son will immediately leave the party today.
Ganesan later took a pair of scissors to cut their red DAP life membership cards and said he will urge 20 other of his relatives to also quit the party.
Present at the home was MCA Gelang Patah chairman Jason Teoh Sew Hock, who is also the MCA Public Service and Complaints Bureau chief.
He was assisted by Setia Jujur Skudai Community Association chairman S Kogilavani.
Teoh said the MCA Public Service and Complaints Bureau will immediately look into Ganesan’s medical condition by getting a third opinion from a doctor.
“We will assist with Ganesan’s daily treatments for the next three-months and also launch a donation drive for him with empty Milo tins,” he said, adding that it was the bureau’s role to assist those in need of help irrespective of political affiliation.
-NST
