KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran politician Karpal Singh has announced that he is stepping aside as DAP chairman pending his sedition appeal.
In a statement issued here yesterday, he said the party’s deputy chairman, Tan Kok Wai, who is also Cheras member of parliament (MP), will be the acting chairman.
“I cannot, until the conviction is set aside or the fine reduced to less than RM2,000, continue to remain chairman of the DAP.
“Under the circumstances, I’m publicly announcing that, pending my appeal to the Court of Appeal against the conviction and sentence which has been filed, I am stepping aside as chairman of the DAP,” said the Bukit Gelugor MP.
Karpal Singh was fined RM4,000 by the High Court on March 11, under Section 4 (1) (b) of the Sedition Act 1948, for questioning the removal of Datuk Seri Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin as Perak mentri besar by the Sultan of Perak on Feb 6, 2009. — Bernama