H-Net* These are the same people who have supported me for 21 years.

[Concorde]

Thursday, December 2, 1999 Karpal: I'll return to Parliament By Hwa Mei Shen PENANG: DAP deputy chairman Karpal Singh has vowed to reclaim his seat in Parliament. The lawyer-politician said yesterday the Barisan Nasional should not be too overjoyed over his defeat in Jelutong, describing it as "a temporary setback." "One day, I will return to Parliament," he declared. "But then again, it depends on whether the people will give me the support." The Barisan's newcomer Lee Kah Choon upset Karpal Singh by 775 votes in the seat which he held for five consecutive terms from 1978. Karpal Singh attributed his loss to the nationwide swing of Chinese votes towards the Barisan in reaction to DAP's tie-up with PAS under the Barisan Alternatif. "It is more a question of the party (as opposed to personalities) and the Barisan machinery's adverse campaigning against us, particularly in the media," he said. While acknowledging disappointment, Karpal Singh said it was the verdict of the people. "I accept it. If the people of Jelutong think they want a change, it's their right. "These are the same people who have supported me for 21 years. I would rather they, and nobody else, decide if someone else should take over from me," he said. The seasoned politician said anyone running for office must be prepared to lose. "It's very important for defeated candidates to get back and get on. Brooding over it is not going to solve anything," he said. On his plans for the future, Karpal Singh said he was determined to carry on despite being handicapped by the loss of Parliament as a forum. "As deputy chairman and Penang chairman, I can still voice the grievances of the people," he noted. It was wrong, he added, to say DAP fared badly in the elections in Penang, noting that the party now had four parliamentary seats compared to the three won in 1995. "But the loss of Bukit Bendera and Jelutong has overshadowed the victories in other constituencies," he said.