He said: "There is no problem if they keep track of Malaysia's political development but to attend political ceramahs (rallies) and have private discussions with political leaders is too close a relationship, and may raise questions on their motives and intentions."
Hamid’s statement is a far cry from the allegation by UMNO Youth that foreign diplomatic missions are providing financial assistance and support to opposition parties in the general election.
Hamid should be specific as to whether the government has any evidence, let alone "substantial evidence", that foreign diplomatic missions have funded Opposition parties in the general election.
Yesterday, in Kuala Trengganu, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad again insinuated that Opposition parties have received funding although he could not produce one iota of evidence.
Mahathir said the government would look into preventing the foreign funding of Opposition parties, on the ground that that if it is proven that opposition parties receiving funding from foreign governments, "it meant allowing foreign intervention in Malaysia’s domestic affairs".
DAP challenges the Prime Minister and the Barisan Nasional to set up a public inquiry into election campaign funds to require all political parties to open their accounts so as to trace whether there had been funding from foreign sources or from corrupt practices.
The DAP has not received a single sen of foreign funding for the general election campaign, and we are prepared to open our books for a public investigation to demonstrate that we have not received any funding from foreign sources or from corrupt practices.
The question is whether the Barisan Nasional and its component parties, particularly UMNO, MCA, Gerakan and MIC would dare to open their books for a full investigation as to whether their election funding had come from foreign sources or from corrupt practices.
I have been given to understand the Barisan Nasional "dirty tricks" department would be arranging for some "shocking" expose about the DAP receiving foreign funding for the general election campaign.
I wish to give advance notice that after the general election on Monday,
the DAP would sue printed or electronic media which published such defamatory
statement about the DAP. Mass media which published such defamatory
statements against the DAP must be prepared to face the full rigours of
the law and cannot hide behind some "strawman" just because he is prepared
to make the most outrageous and preposterous of allegations against the
DAP.
(27/11/99)