Call on the voters of Tanjung to vote solidly for the DAP Parliamentary candidate Chow Kon Yeow to ensure a strong DAP voice to take my place  in Parliament if I should be defeated in Bukit Bendera


Media Conference Statement (2)
by Lim Kit Siang
 

(Penang,  Tuesday): I am surprised that the Penang Chief Minister, Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon has become so personal, using epithets against me which I do not propose to repeat, claiming that I am suffering from  the "long service syndrome" after being in politics for 30 years, and asking the voters of Bukit Bendera and Kebun Bunga to "retire" me from politics.

Tsu Koon would have gained more public respect if he had not been so selective in his political views and stands, as for instance, if he had similarly urged the Malaysian voters to retire Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Ghafar Baba from politics by voting them out of Parliament on Nov. 29, 1999.

In actual fact, Ghafar Baba was already regarded as too "old" and "unwell" to stand for the tenth general election, and this was why he was left out when the Malacca Chief Minister and state Barisan Nasional chairman, Datuk Abu Zahar Isnin last Friday announced the Barisan Nasional candidate line-up for Malacca.

However, three hours later, Ghafar Baba was reinstated by Mahathir as the Barisan Nasional candidate for the Batu Berendam parliamentary constituency, not because Ghafar Baba is really fit to stand for an eighth term as MP, but because Mahathir wants to be sure about winning every parliamentary seat for fear of losing two-thirds parliamentary majority!

During the Barisan Nasional 25th anniversary celebrations at the Bukit Jalil Stadium in Kuala Lumpur last month, Ghafar could not stand the strain and had to be rushed to hospital.  Would Tsu Koon dare to implore  Mahathir or the voters to give Ghafar the "opportunity to retire"?

I would not even ask whether Tsu Koon would dare to suggest that it is time for Mahathir to retire  after five decades of politics, seven terms as MP, 25 years as Minister and 18 years as Prime Minister!

Be that as it may, everybody knows that the Gerakan leadership is doing its utmost to end my parliamentary career in the present general election, euphemistically described by Tsu Koon as "an opportunity to retire".

The Gerakan is putting up the poster "Say No to Kit Siang" all over the Bukit Bendera parliamentary constituency, and the person who would endorse this call the loudest is none other than Mahathir himself.

Tsu Koon is going round declaring that I would meet my political end in the Bukit Bendera parliamentary and Kebun Bunga state assembly constituencies.  When I left Tanjong for the high-risk constituencies of Bukit Bendera and Kebun Bunga, I was prepared to face the prospect of defeat in both constituencies if I fail to persuade the voters to support the DAP to break the Barisan Nasional political hegemony both at the national and state level.

I would however call on the voters of Tanjung to vote solidly for the DAP Parliamentary candidate Chow Kon Yeow to ensure a strong DAP voice to take my place  in Parliament if I should be defeated in Bukit Bendera constituency in this election.

I have full confidence that Chow Kon Yeow  would be able to become an articulate, responsible and courageous voice of Tanjong in Parliament, speaking up not only for the people of Penang but also all Malaysia.

(23/11/99)


*Lim Kit Siang - DAP Secretary-General, Parliamentary Candidate for Bukit Bendera and State Assembly candidate for Kebun Bunga