DAP leaders will continue to make efforts to convince Fong Po
Kuan until the last minute to persuade her to recontest in Batu
Gajah parliamentary seat even though she reiterated in her blog
that she was unable to reconsider her decision to opt out of the
elections. Fong contacted me last night and I conveyed to her
the feelings of hurt and pain the party is feeling at her abrupt
and sudden departure which has affected us and our election
campaign preparations.
However I stressed to her that our love for her as a "daughter"
of DAP remained undiminished and hoped that she returns to the
parliamentary leadership to join the DAP's collective effort to
reduce UMNO's political dominance. DAP reiterates our
condemnation for the dishonest and disgusting tactics of BN
leaders and BN-controlled mass media that DAP tried to force her
out of Batu Gajah.
Fong is a dedicated battler and great believer of DAP's struggle
for truth, freedom, justice and democracy. DAP believes that she
can not only contribute significantly to the party's cause but
also play a major role in educating the public out of their
political apathy to participate in the political process to
change their lives for the better. Fong has seen what she can
achieve as the wakil rakyat of Batu Gajah changing the lives not
only of her constituents but also the mindset of the defeatist
to have faith again in making a positive difference in those who
believes that we can never change the status quo.
At the critical moment of Malaysia's history, DAP needs her and
other leaders to move the process of change towards democracy
forward away from the one-party state of UMNO's political
dominance. And also dispel the lies spread by UMNO, MCA and BN
that DAP wants to force her out of Batu Gajah to contest
elsewhere when Fong herself knows that she has always been the
one and only choice for Batu Gajah parliamentary seat. However
should our efforts to persuade her fail, DAP has to face up to
the negative impact from her departure which has reduced our
winning chances, including trying to salvage the Batu Gajah
parliamentary seat.
*
Lim Guan Eng,
DAP Secretary-General