BUKIT MERTAJAM: A delegate at the annual Penang DAP convention questioned why the map of Seberang Prai is not shown in the convention poster.

"Who designed the poster for this year's convention? I would like to know if Seberang Prai is part of Penang or not? If yes, why is the Seberang Prai map not in the poster?

"It is undeniable that Seberang Prai is indeed the stepchild of the Penang state," remarked Shamsher Singh Thind, a law lecturer, at the convention's debate session at the Ng Yam Huat hall here Sunday.

He said the DAP and Penang state government can no longer be separated and the actions of the state government reflected on the culture of the DAP.

Shamsher also hit out at the unfair toll at the Penang bridge, where normal van users are charged RM12 but luxury "vans" such as Alphard, Vellfire or Starex are only charged RM7.

"The state government has never made any media statement to ask the Federal Government on this," he said.

He also questioned the need for DAP chairman (Chow Kon Yeow) and DAP secretary-general (Lim Guan Eng) to deliver their speeches at the convention in both Bahasa Malaysia and Mandarin.

"I wondered why the need to speak in Mandarin. Aren't we all Malaysians and understand the national language. Perhaps its time to think about the effectiveness of national schools," he added.