A Keadilan leader today called Pahang Menteri Besar Adnan Yaakobs attitude immature in return for the cowardly label the latter gave the party for not contesting in the Ketari by-election.

Adnans statement mirrored his immature attitude and panic, said Keadilan secretary-general Sahri Bahari in a press statement.

Keadilan asserts that the decision to not contest does not mean that the party is shying away from its responsibility to defend the peoples rights. Instead, this will continue through the co-operation among opposition parties, he added.

Adnan was quoted in the New Straits Times today as saying that Keadilan was cowardly for not contesting in the by-election despite constantly raising land issues at the Felda Mempaga settlement to gain political support.

The menteri besar also announced that the land titles at the disputed settlement were ready but could not be given to the Felda settlers yet as they are being kept at the general managers office for security purposes.

Sahri said Keadilan had been following up on the land issue since it was first raised during the 1999 general elections.

Although it has been almost three years, the Pahang state government appears to have shut their eyes (to the unresolved matter), he said, adding that Keadilan can continue to champion the Mempaga issue even though it is not contesting.

Should we have contested, Adnan would certainly have played on the issue of disunity between DAP and Keadilan, he added.

Dont delay

Sahri also urged Adnan to distribute the land grants immediately to the Felda settlers as there is no valid reason to withhold them any longer.

Do not play on the livelihood of the settlers and do not use the opposition as an excuse to hide the weaknesses and failures of the state government, he added.

Controversy surrounding land rights in the Felda estate at Mempaga had been crucial in swinging votes towards opposition DAP during the last general elections.

Umno retained the Ketari state seats with a small margin of 231 votes over DAPs Choong Siew Onn.

The seat fell vacant following the death of Gerakans Loke Koon Kam. The date for the by-election is yet to be announced.