(Petaling Jaya, Thursday): Mingguan Malaysia on Sunday and The Star today
carried reports in connection with a claim
by former MCA secretary-general Datuk Dr. Tan Tiong Hong that in DAP and
MCA secret talks in 1969, I had
agreed in principle to join the Alliance Party
(predecessor to Barisan Nasional) provided DAP wase given three
ministerial posts, including the post of Home Minister.
Those with a basic common sense can immediately
discern the ridiculous nature of the claim – that DAP could ask for the post
of Home Minister from MCA which never held the portfolio or that I could be
involved in such secret talks, let apart from the fact that in 1969 I was the
“guest of His Majesty’s Government” undergoing my first Internal Security
Act detention.
I have not responded to Tiong Hong’s claim as
I want first to get a copy
of his new book which carried the claim
to find out what he actually said.
I will respond to Tiong Hong’s claim at the
DAP Bukit Bintang dinner in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow night.
(23/5/2002)