Hishammuddin even accused the DAP of having Zionist connections.
DAP had been a member of the Socialist International for the past 33 years and we have never hidden this fact from the public. In fact, I was scheduled to attend the Socialist International Congress in Paris from Nov. 8 - 10, but I decided at the last minute not to attend because I felt in my bones that the possibility of the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad suddenly dissolving Parliament to call for general election could not be ruled out.
If being joint members of an international organisation means having "secret relations" with the Israeli government and "Zionist connections", then the Barisan Nasional government is most guilty of such "secret relations" and "Zionist connections" for Malaysia and Israel are both members of the United Nations.
Hishammuddin should know that unlike the Barisan Nasional government, the DAP had never sent any emissaries to Israel - and the DAP had never alleged that the Barisan Nasional government was guilty of having "secret relations" with the Israeli government or "Zionist connections".
In making such wild, baseless and irresponsible allegations against the DAP, Hishammuddin is making his contribution to turn the tenth general election into the dirtiest in the nation’s history - regardless of the harm to the people and country.
Mahathir did enormous damage to Malaysia’s international relations and chances of swift economic recovery when he denounced an international Zionist conspiracy for causing Malaysia’s financial economic crisis. Hishammuddin does not seem to able to learn from Mahathir’s mistakes.
I am shocked beyond words that such wild, baseless and irresponsible allegations could come from Hishammuddin, who had up to now been seen as quite sober and responsible - a standard-bearer of the next generation of UMNO leaders.
Recently, Hishammuddin was selected by Asiaweek as one of the twenty Asian "leaders of the millennium" - one of the two from Malaysia - who could break the "shackles of the past" and usher Asia into a new era.
It would now appear that Asiaweek had made the wrong choice, for Hishammuddin does not seem to have the qualities of a millennium leader to break the "shackles of the past". Hishammuddin is too shackled by the past and this is why he could come out with wild and outrageous allegations about DAP’s "secret relations" with the Israeli government and "Zionist connections".
I want to remind Hishammuddin that he bears an illustrious name and he should not dishonour it.
His father, the late Tun Hussein Onn, and I had great mutual respect for each other - for we had exchanged notes on the political situation until his last days. His grandfather, Onn Jaffar, is a great patriot and nationalist.
Hishammuddin should cherish his family’s illustrious name and not dishonour it by churning out bizzare and outrageous allegations which only expose his political immaturity and mediocrity.
Hishammuddin should unreservedly apologise and withdraw his allegation against the DAP.
(24/11/99)