Ramkarpal to stand in Bukit Gelugor?

GEORGE TOWN: The DAP today refused to be drawn into speculation that Ramkarpal Singh (pix), son of the late Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh, has been slated to contest the seat left vacant by his father.
DAP national vice-chairman and Penang chairman, Chow Kon Yeow, said the party had yet to convene a meeting on the matter.
"People are entitled to their opinions," he told theSun today when asked to comment on online news portal reports that Ramkarpal may contest a by-election forced by the death of his father.
He said the party will issue a statement when necessary and gave an assurance that supporters and constituents will be informed.
"I am sure that things will move faster after the Election Commission (EC) makes an announcement," he said.
The seat fell vacant following Karpal's death in an accident on April 17.
He won the seat in 2004 by defeating Barisan Nasional's (BN) Lim Boo Chang with a 1,261-vote majority.
In 2008, he defeated BN's Datuk Koay Kar Huah with a 21,015-vote majority and defended it again in 2013 against BN's Teh Beng Yeam with a 41,778-vote majority.
Chow said the party took note of the concerns regarding the matter and reiterated a meeting on searching for a replacement had yet to be held.
When contacted, Penang BN chairman Teng Chang Yeow said MCA has to suggest the potential candidate as the seat was traditionally its to contest.
"MCA has to give me a name; it has yet to come up with one," he said.
State MCA chairman Datin Paduka Chew Mei Fun could not be reached at time of writing.