Kit Siang: Young leaders approached Lam Thye, but not on our behalf

In the latest round of verbal sparring that follows the publication of ex-Bukit Bintang MP Lee Lam Thye’s book, veteran leader Lim Kit Siang has said that he just learned that some young DAP leaders did ask Lee to step aside from the constituency.

“I have just learnt that young DAP leaders had met Lam Thye before the 1990 general election to ask him to contest elsewhere instead of in Bukit Bintang, but these suggestions were not on behalf of the party leadership.

“It is regrettable that Lam Thye had maintained his lie that I had asked him to contest elsewhere apart from Bukit Bintang when this was not the case,” said Lim in a statement today.

He said that a check with my website would show the following media statements in 1990.

Sept 26 - “I have absolute confidence and faith that Lam Thye’s resignation as DAP FT Chairman is not because he is considering joining another political party.”

Sept 27 – “Tan Kok Wai being called up to explain the FT DAP situation.”

Sept 28- “Directive to all DAP officials and members not to make any comments on the matter of Lam Thye’s resignation to allow the situation to cool off” where he said Lim four times on his resignation as DAP Federal Territory chairperson.

Sept 29 - Exactly seven days before the dissolution of Parliament, Lam Thye announced his retirement from politics and went overseas to make himself incommunicado.

I said: “However slim the chances, I will not give up in my endeavour to persuade Lam Thye to change his mind to retire from politics” and also that “Lam Thye’s political retirement is a major setback for the DAP and the struggle to bring about the two-coalition system in Malaysia”.

Lim said that if it was really true that he had told Lee that he was not to be nominated for the Bukit Bintang constituency, it would be impossible to keep the news under wraps for 32 years – inside and outside the DAP.

Lim Kit Siang

‘Selective memories’

Yesterday, Lee said he was standing by his allegations that his decision to quit DAP 32 years ago was prompted by attempts to push him out of the Bukit Bintang constituency, where he served as MP for four terms.

He said he had no reason to fabricate stories about his departure from his former party, as told in his recent memoir.

“I can’t help it if some people have selective memories.

“I had said I quit the party because I was told by Lim that I would not be fielded to stand for the 1990 parliamentary elections in the Bukit Bintang constituency of which I was the MP for four terms,” he reportedly said.

Lee alleged that he was told by DAP leadership that they had identified a candidate to replace him in Bukit Bintang prior to his decision to quit the party.

This turned out later to be Wee Choo Keong - who would also fall out of favour with the DAP leadership in 1998.

According to Lee, the move to push him to another unidentified seat was because his “non-belligerent” style of politics did not sit well with the party leadership.

Lee, Wee, Fan Yew Teng, Yap Pian Hon, Hu Sepang, Yeap Ghim Guan and Kua Kia Soong were among those DAP veterans said to have clashed with the party leadership during Lim’s time as secretary-general, with some of them going on to form short-lived splinter parties like the Socialist Democratic Party and the Malaysian Democratic Party. - Mkini