(Petaling Jaya, Sunday):
I attended the Sariken DAP Branch moon-cake festival dinner last night and when I arrived at the KLIA this morning, I received a call from a senior reporter who asked whether I was contesting in Sabah.
I told him I did not know what he was talking about. He said one newspaper had reported that the Sabah DAP had proposed that I contest in the Gaya parliamentary by-election. I again told him I did not know what he was talking about as I had not read the newspaper.
When I met the press in Malacca later in the afternoon for the national flag raising ceremony in the Durian Daun state constituency, I referred to the Star report and said that "nothing could be further from my mind than contesting in Gaya", and that in any event, it is premature for anyone to talk about a Gaya by-election as there would be no vacancy if Yong Teck Lee submits a petition for pardon to the Yang di Pertuan Agong before September 18.
I understand that there are reporters who have interpreted my comment as interest in contesting in Gaya in the event of a parliamentary by-election. Let me put the matter beyond any possibility of doubt: Nothing could be further from my mind and the question of my contesting in Gaya does not arise at all as I have absolutely no interest in the matter.
(13/9/2002)