There are two options on former DAP Youth chief Lim Guan Eng's mind now as the possibility of a political comeback edges closer - should he spend more time with his three children or be ready to serve as the next DAP secretary-general?

Guan Eng, barred from active politics for five years after serving an 18-month jail sentence, will be eligible to take up the cudgels again on behalf of opposition party DAP tomorrow.

Over this period, allegations have been made that his father Kit Siang, the DAP chairperson, has been grooming him for the powerful secretary-general's post.

Speculation intensified when the party congress was postponed from August to Sept 4, ostensibly to fit in the date of eligibility on Aug 25.

In an exclusive interview with malaysiakini yesterday at his office in Malacca, however, Guan Eng maintained that there was an "open question" over what role he would assume in the party.

"It is not an easy decision, because the sacrifices (involved) ... more importantly, my children are growing up. You want to see them growing up, and share some part of this," said father of three children, aged nine to 13 adding that his own parents would be supportive of whatever decision he made on his political future.

He explained that they had suffered a lot during his imprisonment and that they fear he will be jailed again if he re-enters politics.

For this reason, too, he said he would be more cautious in handling issues, although he also said there would be no compromise on certain issues.

"Imprisonment definitely has not deterred me, and for sure freedom will not restrain me," he said.

Intense pressure

Adding to Guan Eng's dilemma is the fact that party officials like deputy chairperson Karpal Singh have unwittingly added to the pressure by identifying him as the next potential secretary-general.

Asked for his response, Guan Eng laughed and said "give me a break", a comment he repeated twice more at the end of the 90-minute interview.

He also said the DAP has many capable leaders, including acting secretary-general M Kulasegaran, who is Ipoh Barat MP.

Asked about public perceptions that the DAP practises dynasty politics and nepotism, he said: "Dynasty is for something where you can get favours, but if you want the dynasty of going to jail, I don't think any parent would want that."

He declined to say much about the party's problems, in particular about calls for Kit Siang to step down.

"I can't comment on that because of the kinship... But if you look at it by reason, whether Lim Kit Siang is still needed or not, that answer is very clear. Lim Kit Siang is still needed," he said.

Parliamentary seat

Guan Eng said supporters should restrain their expectations of him, saying he can still serve the public without being a parliamentarian.

He was the MP for Kota Melaka for three consecutive terms, but lost the seat because of his jail sentence. In the March general election, the party lost the seat to Barisan Nasional.

"I don't think I have any plan to regain our fortress," he said, calling instead for the party to identify the reasons for the loss of many seats at the polls.

The Johor-born accountant entered politics in 1986 and became the youngest MP at the age of 25. In 1999, he was chosen by Asiaweek magazine as one of Asia's 20 government and political leaders for the new millennium.

However, he was barred from holding political party posts after he was convicted of spreading false news involving the alleged statutory rape of a minor by former Umno Youth chief and Malacca chief minister Abdul Rahim Thamby Chik.

Rahim had filed a defamation suit against DAP but withdrew it when the party in an unprecedented move last October conceded in a court declaration that it had made a 'wholly unfounded' allegation .

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