DAP supports Abdullah and calls for an immediate moratorium on all talk about Suqiu Appeal

(Petaling Jaya, Sunday): Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi  reiterated in Muar yesterday  his call to all quarters to stop talking about the Siqiu issue as such comments will not bring any benefit.

Abdullah said:

"By right we should not entertain...when we talk, some people will seize the opportunity."

This is the third time in two weeks that that Abdullah, who is also Home Minister, is calling for a halt  to the Suqiu controversy.

When speaking at the Sixth World Federation of Foochow Associations Convention in Kuala Lumpur on December 17, 2000, Abdullah said that the "stoking the fire of intolerance and acting  selfishly to the detriment of a strong, peaceful and united Malaysia "is not the way to build a Malaysia for all Malaysians".

He  said that lately,  demands and counter demands had been made, demonstration had been held and emotions had run high.

"All this must be stopped,"

DAP supports Abdullah call and agrees with him that certain elements are "instigating" to "aggravate the situation and cause tension in the country".

The time has come for the Suqiu controversy to end, especially as the Suqiu Committee had in two recent statements reiterated that it had never challenged the Federal Constiution,  respected Article 153 of the Malaysian Constitution on Malay special rights and that its Appeal is "a vision encompassing various concerns from national unity, democracy and political reform, human rights, anti-corruption, judiciary, socio-economical justice, education, environmental protection, multiculturalism, housing policy, professionalism of the police and mass media, women's rights, workers' rights to the  indigenous people's right" to pursue "a united, democratic, liberal, tolerant, progressive, just, prosperous and caring Malaysian society,  in line with the spirit of Vision 2020". (22.12.2000).

In its Christmas and Hari Raya Aidil Fitri message on 24th December 2000, the Suqiu Committee reaffirmed its "commitment to the continuation of affirmative action programmes for the truly needy in this country", its support for the special positions of the Malays and natives of  any of the states of Sabah and Sarawak as provided by Article 153 of the Federal Constitution and called for "checks and balances to prevent  such affirmative programmes being abused at the expense of the truly needy" to address the  widening economic gaps amongst all Malaysians.

It said:

"Only when the affirmative action is truly need-based, and implemented with justice and fairness, will all the truly needy but marginalized communities, be given opportunities to progress."

(31/12/2000)