(Kuching, Friday): In ten days' time, Lim Guan Eng is likely to start his prison sentence at the Kajang Prisons, not because he had committed any crime, as armed robbery, arson, rape or murder, but because he conscientiously discharged his duties as a Member of Parliament to go to the defence of a 15-year-old girl to protect her honour, dignity, human rights and women's rights against the most powerful and mighty personality in state.
In the event, the powerful personality accused of statutory rape was not only let off scot-free, the girl victim was detained for a time and what is worse, Guan Eng who went to her defence now faces the prospect of 36-month jail sentence, disqualification as MP and the end of his political carrer.
In the past four-and-a-half months, the DAP had launched a Sympathy, Support and Solidarity (SSS) with Lim Guan Eng campaign which had received tremendous support from Malaysians regardless of race, religion or political beliefs.
The campaign is the result of the national outrage at the injustice meted out to Guan Eng for conscientiously and diligently discharging his duties as a Member of Parliament.
However, the campaign is not just confined to Guan Eng's case. This is why it had spawned a larger parallel national movement for justice, freedom, democracy and good governance for all Malaysians, so that they would not be victims of injustice and discriminatory laws and irresponsible or negligent practices in the land.
It is not only a DAP tragedy but a national tragedy that when the DAP is trying to create a new political phenomenon of denying the Barisan Nasional two-thirds parliamentary majority in the coming general elections, the DAP should be faced the worst party crisis in its 32-year history.
This is because a systematic KOKS (Knock-Out Kit Siang) campaign stitching up the grievances and unhappiness of DAP malcontents in various states, who believe that their only hope for another political run in the next general elections is to "kill" me first, is threatening the very credibility and integrity of the DAP as well as the first chance for Malaysians for a political breakthrough in the next general elections.
I am very saddened that KOKS leaders who claim to love the party are prepared resort to falsehoods and accusations which I would not have made against another party leader - as for instance, accusing another party leader of "hanging up a goat's head to sell dog's meat", whatever depths he had fallen in political honesty and morality.
I do not propose to go personal against anyone, whatever the lies and falsehoods they have told about me - as for instance, going public as to how I had tried to help a party leader who was unable to impose discipline in his own family over the upbringing of his daugthter - for there have to be a clear distinction between personal and party matters.
When I volunteered to help a party leader over his family problems, causing great problems for my wife and myself, it is an act of personal friendship which has nothing to do with the party, and I will never hold it against him as a personal debt to me.
The vital issue in question is not whether I can survive or not at the DAP National Congress on August 22/23, or whether I would be knocked out by the KOKS campaign.
The most important issue is whether Malaysians can make full use of unprecedented political conditions to deny the Barisan Nasional its two-third parliamentary majority in the next general elections.
This is the issue which must engage every second of our time and every ounce of our energy because the denial of two-thirds parliamentary majority in the next general elections would be a earth-shattering political event, worthy of the Richter-5 result of the Arau parliamentary by-election or even the Richter-6 result of the Teluk Intan by-election.
This is why I have decided to dedicate myself to this challenging political goal , despite the case of Lim Guan Eng or even the distractions of the KOKS campaign.
Guan Eng may start his prison sentence in ten days' time. Just as he has decided that instead of spending his limited days of freedom with his wife and three young children, he wants to go all over the country to inspire Malaysians to stand up for justice, freedom, democracy and good governance, I have decided to dedicate all my available energies to help crystallise a political scenario where for the first time in Malaysian history, the Barisan Nasional could be denied its two-thirds parliamentary majority in the next general elections.
This is why I have not been able to have a family re-union in the past four-and-a-half months since the Court of Appeal decision on April 1, 1998 enhancing Guan Eng's sentence from RM15,000 to 36-months jail, because the creation of a national movement for justice, freedom, democracy and good governance must take the highest priority.
I can only squeeze in about one hour for a family reunion this coming Sunday, with my wife, my four children and grandchildren before the fateful day of August 24 when the Federal Court would decide whether to uphold the 36-month jail sentence imposed by the Court of Appeal on Guan Eng.
The family should have spent more time together before Guan Eng starts his prison sentence in Kajang Prisons, but when public duty calls, family and personal considerations must take second place. But it really hurts when baseless allegations are made by, of all people, DAP leaders who should know better.
(14/8/98)