Manoharan urged to stay on

By Vasudevan, NST

Selangor Gerakan is rooting for M. Manoharan to stay on as the DAP Kota Alam Sham assemblyman. 

Its chief, A. Kohilan Pillay, said Manoharan should see his term out and blamed Pakatan Rakyat for the Internal Security Act detainee's frustrations.

"Voters there knew what they were getting into when they voted for him. We want him to continue, as the voters decided on him."

Kohilan said Manoharan's problems could be solved if Pakatan Rakyat offered more support to Manoharan's wife, S. Pusphaneela, who is acting for him in his absence.

"Pakatan Rakyat members should deliver. Where is the team spirit? I don't think they are doing enough to help her."
However, he said Gerakan would contest the seat if Manoharan resigned.

"We are not urging him to stay because we are afraid of a by-election. But if he decides to quit, we will field a candidate."

In the last election, Manoharan beat Gerakan's Ching Su Chen by 12,699 votes to 5,515.

Manoharan is due to make a decision on his quit plan after meeting DAP chairman Kar-pal Singh on May 19.

If he resigns his seat, it will be the seventh by-election since the last general election and the first in Selangor.