(Petaling Jaya, Tuesday): I want to thank the 203,933 Malaysians who, in ten days, have supported the nation-wide signature campaign launched by the Council for Justice, Freedom, Democracy and Good Governance appealing to the Yang di Pertuan Agong to pardon Lim Guan Eng.
The 203,933 signatures were presented to Istana Negara by a Council delegation led by Parti Rakyat Secretary-General Dr. Sanusi Osman and DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Kepong, Dr. Tan Seng Giaw. Other leaders in the delegation includes DAP National Vice Chairmen, Ahmad Nor, Dr. Oon Hong Geok, DAP Deputy Secretary-General, Abdul Muluk Daud, National Organising Secretary, Kerk Kim Hock, National Publicity Secretary, Tan Kok Wai and National Treasurer, Fung Kui Lun.
As the nation-wide signature campaign machinery had not fully got off the ground, requiring normally about two weeks to get the publicity, organisation and human resources to get on track, I had worried as to how many signatures could be collected in the first ten days set for the first deadline of the mass signature campaign.
When the first 10-day deadline was set, I was wondering whether there could be 20,000 to 30,000 signatures; but from the great response from Malaysians regardless of race, religion, class or gender to the "Redeem Justice, Free Guan Eng" campaign", I began to believe that the campaign should be able to garner 50,000 signatures, and on the eve of the deadline, even to believe the 100,000 figure could be breached.
The final tally of 203,933 signatures is totally unexpected and will be a great encouragement to Guan Eng in Kajang Prisons when he learns about it.
I want to thank all Malaysians who have taken time to collect the signatures to support the "Free Guan Eng campaign". This is only the first phase of the nation-wide mass signature campaign. Let us make the second phase of the signature campaign equally successful.
(8/9/98)