(Petaling Jaya, Monday): DAP is prepared to co-operate with PAS, UMNO, MCA, Gerakan or MIC on mutually-agreed common objectives although we have deep and great political differences with them.
This is why the DAP has offered its hand of co-operation to the MCA, Gerakan, MIC and UMNO Members of Parliament to work together to oppose the unfair new toll rate increases and the introduction of unfair new tolls, and I hope that there are MCA, Gerakan, MIC and UMNO MPs who have the courage to put the interests of the people above that of the party or even self and attend the meeting in Parliament tomorrow on the issue.
Similarly, the DAP is prepared to co-operate with PAS to restore justice, protect democracy and human rights and to combat corruption, although the DAP will not compromise on our stand that an Islamic state is unsuitable and inappropriate for a multi-religious society like Malaysia and our commitment to a secular state.
I note the report in today’s Star quoting the Mentri Besar of Kelantan and PAS Mursyidul Am, Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat clarifying that he did not mean to equate DAP with "Satan" when he said earlier that PAS is willing to form an electoral pact with DAP or "even Satan" but on the condition that they help the cause of Islam.
As a political leader in a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-cultural Malaysia, Nik Aziz should realise that he has to be more careful and very sensitive in his public statements and should even try to set an example for others rather than making statements causing confusion and requiring clarifications or corrections.
DAP accepts and respects Islam in the way that the DAP accepts and respects Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism and Sikkhism which are practised as major religions in Malaysia and the question of having an electoral pact with any party to serve the cause of one religion or another does not arise as far as the DAP is concerned. DAP wants to serve the cause of all religions which impart the universal values of goodness, humanity, justice and mercy so that Malaysians can develop spiritually while the country develops materially.
The DAP never had an electoral pact with PAS in previous general elections and the DAP does not propose to have such an electoral pact for the next general election.
The DAP, however, is prepared to work with PAS and other political parties, including those in the Barisan Nasional, on specific common objectives which promote the cause of justice, freedom, democracy and good governance in Malaysia.
(25/1/99)