(Petaling Jaya, Tuesday): The Star
reported that I have decided to “boycott” all Opposition front meetings
affecting the party and Parti Keadilan Nasional in a front-page report
with a most mischievous heading: “Kit Siang bites back by boycotting meetings”.
The question of my “boycotting” Barisan Alternative meetings
does not arise at all and has never entered my mind. What I said yesterday
was that I will ask the DAP Central Executive Committee to replace
me with another DAP leader in Barisan Alternative discussions and
meetings affecting DAP-Keadilan relationship.
I am still committed to the concept of Barisan Alternative to restore justice, freedom, democracy and good governance to usher the country through a new political transition to create a new politics in Malaysia which is not so race-dominated but more issues-centred.
I had openly conceded that the Keadilan national leaders are good, sincere and honourable people but it imposes a great strain on any bilateral relationship when the national leaders do not fully know what is happening on the ground at state and local levels, particularly in the Chinese media, which sour bilateral ties to the extent that assurances could not be fully honoured. In fact, the events of the past few days gave even more examples of the contradictions between what are said at the national level from those at the state and local levels.
It is the right of Keadilan to decide on who it wants to admit as a member which is a different and separate issue as to whether component parties in a political front should be ever sensitive and respectful of each other, or whether there is going to be a lot of political games against each other, especially using the Chinese media, at state and local levels which are not calculated to strengthen bilateral ties and relationships or enhance mutual trust and confidence.
(27/2/2001)