Media Statement 
by DAP Kota Kinabalu Branch Chairman, Hiew King Cheu 
on 15^th September, 2002
in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Clarification on the report written by Muguntan Vanar in The Sunday Star 

The Sunday Star today reported that Sabah DAP wanted Party National Chairman, Lim Kit Siang to contest in the Gaya Parliamentary seat in order that the Party can make a comeback in the state. The report further quoted me as saying that we will make a formal request to the Party headquarters for Lim to be the candidate. 

I wish to clarify that this is gross misreporting which is totally out of context on the part of the journalist concerned, Muguntan Vanar. I wish to stress here that I was misquoted by Muguntan and had never made such a call. 

The fact of the matter is that when I was asked by Muguntan from The Star, I said that I was in the process of making an analysis of the political situation in Gaya, as requested by the Party Central Executive Committee (CEC). I said anyone was possible to be the candidate for the by-election, including Lim Kit Siang, others and I. At no time did I mention that Sabah DAP intended to ask Lim to contest the seat. I also said that the decision is the CEC’s and we in Sabah DAP will abide by the CEC’s decision. Besides, I also said that should the Party contests in Sabah, the CEC leaders will come to campaign in Sabah. 

This statement of mine was correctly reported by the Chinese papers in Sabah, but I do not understand why The Star could come out with such a report which is far different from the my actual statement. 

In view of this, I hope clarification can be made of the misreporting and misquotation.