Press Statement
by DAP Secretary General and MP for Kota Melaka, Kerk Kim Hock
in Petaling Jaya
on Saturday, October 19, 2002

UN's allegations: Best and effective rebuttal is for the government to be open and transparent on the questions of militancy and terrorism threat in Malaysia

It is no surprise that both the government and opposition parties have reacted angrily to the United Nation Security Council's report implication Barisan Nasional with the Al- Queda terrorist movement.

The UN's allegation that Barisan Nasional is linked with the international terrorists movement is unthinkable to any Malaysian. No Malaysian, I believe, will agree with such a preposterous allegation.

However, I wish to remind the government that the best and effective rebuttal against such an allegation, is for the government to be open and transparent on the questions of militancy and terrorism threat in Malaysia.

Hence, besides making the necessary protests and clarifications, the government must be prepared, through the presentation of a White Paper in Parliament, inform the MPs and Malaysians on the question of militancy threat in our country and whether such organisations have any link with any international terrorist organisation.

As the Barisan Nasional is the coalition of parties that rule the country, and coupled with the fact that the UN's report will adversely affect Malaysia's international image, the government must take the best and effective step to correct the United Nation's s mistake and to win the confidence of foreign tourists and investors.

It is indeed regrettable that the United Nations, as a world body, has not first checked with the Malaysian government or the Police on the allegation which is based on the book " Inside al-Queda-global network of terror". Such a hasty decision by the United Nation is most unfair and even dangerous, considering the impact and implications of such untruthful allegation to Malaysia and its people.

There must be clear distinction between an organisation's leadership actively accepting or supporting a terrorist organisation and an organisation being infiltrated by some terrorist elements without the knowledge of the leadership. In any case, any allegation must be fully substantiated and not based on mere theoretical inferences or so called logical conclusions.

The United Nations must therefore explain why it has made such an unprofessional and hasty report which will have very serious implications to Malaysia.

Since the book's author Rohan Gunaratna said that the information on the link between Barisan Nasional and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) was taken from a report of the Philippines Police, the Malaysian government should obtain a copy of the report and carry out the necessary investigation.

As Gunaratna also told the Singapore Straits Times "there is credible information that members of the MILF have been in communication with members of the Barisan Nasional ", the Malaysian Police should also seek his cooperation to verify the truth of his allegation.