Keadilan today said it was up to its former leader Dr Chandra Muzaffar to accept or reject veteran politician Karpal Singh's offer to join DAP.

The party's deputy president Abdul Rahman Othman told malaysiakini that Chandra was free to choose as he is no longer with Keadilan.

"DAP has every right to make the offer," he said.

Yesterday, DAP deputy chairperson Karpal said Chandra's talent should not be left untapped and urged the former Keadilan deputy president to join his party.

The DAP leader said Chandra "still has the fire in his belly to carry on with the political struggle he embarked upon".

Meanwhile, Abdul Rahman denied Chandra's claim that Keadilan leaders practised the concept of 'the ends justifies the means.'

The former academic was reported to have hurled this accusation during a DAP-organised forum in Penang on Thursday.

Asked the reasons for his exit from Keadilan, Chandra had replied: "It (the reasons) will hurt a lot of people. I joined the party because of principles and I will not be part of anything that troubles my conscience."

'No stamina'

Describing Keadilan as a party which upholds democracy, Abdul Rahman claimed Chandra left the party because he had "no stamina" for partisan politics.

"He was comfortable with where he was before," he said, referring to Chandra's role as an academic.

Abdul Rahman said partisan politics require leaders to get everyone to work for them. "He (Chandra) found this difficult to do," he added.

Chandra, who is also the president for the International Movement for a Just World (Just), left Keadilan in December last year.

Prior to the party elections a month before, he said he would not defend his deputy presidency and Abdul Rahman subsequently won the post.

Despite numerous attempts, Chandra could not be reached for comment.

Join DAP, Karpal urges Chandra