(Bukit Mertajam, Sunday): UMNO Youth leader, Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has called on me to resign as DAP Secretary-General, saying that he had been told that some DAP leaders were not happy with the "roadshow" organised to show support and sympathy for Lim Guan Eng who has been sentenced to 36 months� jail.
Ahmad Zahid�s joy is evident, for the UMNO Youth leader, like other Barisan Nasional leaders, had been worried about the public outrage at the injustice in the Lim Guan Eng case, which had been expanded to raise greater consciousness and awareness among Malaysians of all races to stand up for justice, freedom, democracy and good governance, not only in the Lim Guan Eng case, but for the betterment of the lives of all Malaysians.
The concern and worries of the Barisan Nasional leaders about the support that is being garnered for the Support, Sympathy and Solidarity with Lim Guan Eng campaign and the national movement for justice, freedom, democracy and good governance from Malaysians from all walks of life, cutting across race and religion, has even caused the Barisan Nasional government to consider a crackdown on the fundamental liberties of freedom of speech and assembly.
This was why the police had disallowed three public meetings to be held recently, two in connection with the Lim Guan Eng case, and the third being the FOMCA forum on "water crisis" in Kuala Lumpur.
Now, the Barisan Nasional leaders are hoping that the Support, Sympathy and Solidarity with Lim Guan Eng campaign and the national movement for justice, freedom, democracy and good governance would fail because of the DAP internal problems.
This can be seen by the way certain Barisan Nasional-controlled mass media is trying to exploit the issue, refusing to give fair coverage to the DAP�s problems, where the statement of one branch is given greater importance and coverage than the statement of the DAP National Chairman!
The Central Executive Committee had removed or suspended Wee Choo Keong, Liew Ah Kim and Fung Ket Wing from their national party positions because the CEC had lost confidence in them as national leaders, as they had refused to accept the principle of collective leadership and responsibility for decisions taken by the CEC, but had instead spread dissension and disunity among party leaders and members.
The Sympathy, Support and Solidarity with Lim Guan Eng campaign and the national movement for justice, freedom, democracy and good governance have developed a most impressive momentum because of the tremendous support from the people in the past two months, and Wee, Liew and Fung should seriously ask themselves whether they want them to fail.
In the past two months, Wee, Liew and Fung have not shown any interest in these two campaigns, as apart from their national positions, Wee Choo Keong is also Federal Territory DAP State Secretary and Fung is Sabah DAP State Chairman.
If Wee, Liew and Fung do not want the Sympathy, Support and Solidarity with Lim Guan Eng campaign and the national movement for justice, freedom, democracy and good governance to fail, and want to actively help in promoting these two causes, they are welcome to take an active part as they are still CEC members apart from the DAP State positions they are holding.
(7/6/98)