http://dapmalaysia.org
Call on Ong Tee Kiat to clarify whether the two names he submitted to Abdullah on “black gold” politics in MCA also appeared in the poison-pen letter alleging Ka Ting as the “ringleader” of MCA “black gold” politicsMedia Statement by Lim Kit Siang (Penang,
Thursday): MCA
Youth chief Datuk Ong Tee Keat had taken the correct and proper stand when
he strongly denied he had anything to do with a three-page poison pen letter
linking MCA Vice President and Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk
Seri Ong Ka Ting to triads in the MCA, declaring that he was “dead against”
poison-pen letters and those behind such letters, as he himself was a victim
of such tactics. (Malay Mail 7.5.03) He strains credulity however when he claimed yesterday that he had up to now not read the content of the poison-pen letter and was unable to make any comment (Kwong WahYit Poh), as he could not be serious in expecting Malaysians to believe that he had not read the poison-pen letter which alleged Ka Ting as the “ringleader” of “black gold politics” in MCA when the poison-pen letter had been in wide circulation for more than a month and he was the one and only one who had made the allegation of “black gold” politics in MCA! Ka Ting himself confirmed that the poison-pen letter was being distributed door-to-door and in the market, apart from being posted to MCA and MCA Youth leaders and members. The Malay Mail yesterday gave a summary of the content of the three-page poison-pen letter in Mandarin, “which is said to have originated from the North”, on the identity of the names submitted by Tee Keat to Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi who were allegedly triad figures close to Ka Ting.
The Malay Mail said that “one of the triad figures was from the
north” while the second was from Selangor but was murdered recently. When Ka Ting lodged the police report against the poison-pen letter on Tuesday, he asked the police to investigate the identity of the perpetrators. This however can only be one aspect of any police investigation – the other being the more important public interest issue of the truth or otherwise of the many allegations against Ka Ting as the “ringleader” of “black gold” politics in MCA in the three-page poison-pen letter. The credibility, independence and professionalism of the Malaysian police, though adequate to deal with ordinary crimes, have not reached the stage as to inspire confidence that it would be able to act with independence, integrity and professionalism with politically-loaded cases, especially one involving a Cabinet Minister. As the poison-pen letter against Ka Ting as the “ring-leader” of “black gold” politics in MCA has been so extensively circulated, and even reported in both the print and electronic media, the Malaysian public are entitled to demand a full and no “cover-up” or “hush-up” investigation into its content, with its findings to be made public. As the police, as presently constituted, is incapable of independently and professionally getting to the bottom of the poison-pen letter alleging a Cabinet Minister as the “ringleader” of “black gold” politics in MCA without being influenced by political considerations, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad should establish a public inquiry headed by an eminent and reputable Malaysian, whether a former judge or distinguished public personality, to conduct such an inquiry. The public inquiry into the serious allegation that a Cabinet Minister is the “ring-leader” of “black gold” politics in the ruling coalition, which is the worst possible form of “political SARS” with its inter-marriage of organized crime with corruption to subvert the political system, economic system, the rule of law and social justice, should present its report to Parliament. This is the only way to ensure that Ka Ting’s police report and the ensuing police investigations are not mere political “sandiwara”, full of sound and fury signifying nothing. (8/5/2003) * Lim Kit Siang, DAP National Chairman |