(Petaling Jaya, Thursday): For the second day, Nanyang Siang Pau has blacked out my reply to its nasty and vicious Tuesday editorial attacking the DAP entitled "DAP's self-created crisis", denying the DAP the right to reply.
The Nanyang Siang Pau also blacked out my press conference yesterday demanding an explanation as to why it had come out with an editorial which is even more ferocious and vicious in its attack on the DAP and the DAP leadership than from our political opponents in the Barisan Nasional, whether UMNO, MCA or Gerakan.
In my statement yesterday, I had asked why NYSP had not justified its vicious editorial against the DAP and explain why it is involved in a campaign to exploit the DAP crisis to try to destroy the DAP to help the Barisan Nasional in the coming general elections or alternatively to publicly withdraw and apologise for the vicious editorial.
The Nanyang Siang Pao has again provided another example of its unfair and biased coverage of the DAP crisis to further its agenda.
In its night edition last night, Nanyang Siang Pao carried the clarification by DAP National Organising Secretary, Tan Kok Wai as well as by a printer, Lee Wai Chuan, rebutting a lie that had been told about Kok Wai but in this morning's edition, this report was taken out.
It is clear that this report was taken out of the Nanyang Siang Pao
this morning for whoever is responsible for the NYSP campaign to exploit
the DAP crisis must have found that the clarification would do justice
and fairness to the DAP and the DAP leadership - and is therefore inimical
to the whole NYSP campaign to exploit the DAP crisis, destroy the DAP and
"kill Lim Kit Siang".
Let the "Black Hand" behind the Nanyang Siang Pau campaign to exploit
the DAP crisis, destroy the DAP and "kill Lim Kit Siang" step forward,
reveal his identity or identities and justify this "black operation".
Let the "Black Hand" of this NYSP "black operation" explain what Nanyang Siang Pao hopes to achieve in destroying the DAP and "killing" me politically. They would of course be doing a great service to the Barisan Nasional - but let them explain whether they would be doing a great service to the country and people of Malaysia!
The DAP is going through its worst crisis in its 32-year history, not only from inside but also by powerful forces outside, including the might, influence and wealth of one of the most powerful media conglomerate in South East Asia - Nanyang Siang Pau.
This is not only the DAP's worst crisis, it is also the worst crisis in my political life. I do not know whether I can survive it when there is a powerful "black hand" which could manipulate the NYSP to go against the most elementary tenets of independent, fair and responsible journalism as to deny me the right to reply to its nasty and vicious editorial on Tuesday, black out my statement yesterday as well as present a most selective and tendentious coverage of the DAP crisis designed to present the DAP in the worst possible light.
It is clear that the "black hand" behind the NYSP campaign to exploit the DAP crisis, destroy the DAP and "kill Lim Kit Siang" is serving higher agendas - including undermining and destroying the campaign to seek justice for Lim Guan Eng and the national movement for justice, freedom, democracy and good governance as well as to help Barisan Nasional in the next general elections.
This can be seen not only from the way NYSP reported the DAP crisis, but also in the manner it had tried to influence public opinion through its editorials, comment pieces and other opinion page articles.
On 8th June 1998, for instance, the NYSP carried an editorial virtually describing me as a "Pol Pot", reaching my present position through a "heap of skeletons". Could there be any editorial which is more nasty and vicious? Unfortunately, yes, the NYSP editorial of 14th July 1998 where I was described as a greater threat to press freedom than even Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad himself!
The DAP has many friends and well-wishers in the NYSP all over the country occupying various positions in the company. We believe they are not involved in a "black operation" to exploit the DAP crisis, destroy the DAP and "kill Lim Kit Siang" and we continue to regard them as friends and well-wishers and cherish their concern and good wishes.
But we are not prepared to kowtow to the "black hand" behind the NYSP campaign to exploit the DAP crisis, destroy the DAP and "kill Lim Kit Siang" and the DAP will decide on our counter-measures against this "black operation" of Nanyang Siang Pau.
For a start, I am cancelling my regular column in the Sunday edition of the NYSP as a protest against this NYSP "black operation" to exploit the DAP crisis, destroy the DAP and "kill Lim Kit Siang".
(16/7/98)