Suspended Manoharan to lose candidacy?

KUALA LUMPUR: A comment on a blog post about the six-month suspension of M. Manoharan has raised the question of whether the suspension means he would not be re-nominated by the DAP if the general election were called in the next few months.

The comment appeared in the OutSyed the Box blog, where Blogger Syed Akbar Ali wrote that the DAP has "ISA'd" Manoharan.

The posting was in relation to the DAP disciplinary committee's decision to slap a six-month suspension on Manoharan, the party's Kota Alam Shah assemblyman, for his controversial comments about the Malaysian flag.

The disciplinary committee took action yesterday, one week after Manoharan's comments on Facebook that the Malaysian flag should be changed.

A public outcry ensued and Manoharan apologised and took down the posting on his Facebook page. 

DAP disciplinary committe chairman Tan Kok Wai was quoted in The New Straits Times today as saying that the "improper" remarks were unbecoming of an elected representative. "We feel this is the right punishment," he said.

When contacted by The Mole today, Manoharan said the issue had been blown out of proportion and maintained he had not condemned the flag.

"It is only my personal view," he said. "It does not reflect anything on the party."

It was reported that Manoharan has 14 days to appeal the suspension.

Source: MOLE