Thank you for publishing Tony Thien's feature 'Do not abandon troubled ship, pleads PBB captain' (April 9) article. It is a good report on the grand function that day. I attended this and another function organised by Abang Abu Bakar.

While listening to the history of PBB in its early days, I can't help but think whether the organisers had their calculation wrong or my arithmetics is beyond repair. Glaring in front of us are the formation dates of PBB in 1973.

As pointed by Tony Thien, it was Rahman Yaakub who started the mergers soon after taking office as Chief Minister on 7th July, 1970.

Now how did PBB count its anniversary? If the merger date in 1973 is used, then it is just 28 year-old. If the merger dates of Party Negara and Berjasa is used then it is only 29 year old.

I went back early that Saturday as my friend who accompanied me believed the chief minister's speech was going to be very long. She invited me to attend another function that evening.

The public rally by Abang Abu Bakar was lively with about 3,000 people, who stayed on despite the drizzle. I went back happy that evening to note that my math is still intact. One of the speakers explained PBB's formation and how Taib misled the party members with wrong dates.

I still wonder why no one dares to correct the party president on this basic mistake. Perhaps that may be one of the reasons Abang Abu Bakar and Rahman Yaakub failed to agree with Abdul Taib Mahmud on many occassions.