The two contesting parties in the upcoming Ketari by-election, Gerakan and DAP, seem unwilling to let go of the contentious issue of a lie, allegedly uttered by the Gerakan president 12 years ago, which throws DAPs sincerity into question.

Responding to Gerakan president Dr Lim Keng Yaiks reciprocatory call on him to behave like a gentleman, DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock said Lim should be rational and fair as a senior minister in making comments against his political opponents.

If he is sincere about wanting to conduct the by-election in a gentlemanly manner, he should at least apologise for making the baseless allegation 12 years ago, instead of saying (during a press conference) that he did not and could not have repeated it recently as his informer (who could back him up) had passed away, said Kerk today.

Lim was alleged to have said that DAP had conspired with PAS in a secret meeting in Jakarta in 1990, naming Kerk as one of those involved.

Even though Lim has denied repeating the allegations, I have, while taking part in the Royal Address debate in Parliament two days ago, urged the Home Minister to check through the travelling records in my passport and reveal them in Parliament [to prove him wrong anyway], said Kerk in a press statement.

In 1990, Lim Kit Siang, then DAP secretary-general sued Keng Yaik for calling him a liar over the purported DAP-PAS secret meeting. The matter was dismissed by the High Court and Federal Court and Kit Siang had to pay costs to Lim.

The Gerakan leader has been saying that Kit Siang lost the case.

Struck off

However, Kerk pointed out that the suit was struck off due to a technical glitch, therefore, Lim was not vindicated by the court and he must not give the impression that the trial had proceeded on merits.

He must tell the entire truth and give the entire picture  that is, the case was dismissed without trial, he said.

I did not start the issue and I did not call him a liar. However, the undisputable fact is that what Keng Yaik alleged 12 years ago against me was not true and, therefore, was a lie, he added.

Kerk said he had never been to Jakarta and neither was he involved in any secret meeting with any PAS leadership to discuss co-operation between the two parties.

I was, therefore, telling the truth when I said the allegation which could not be substantiated was a lie, he added.

On Monday, Lim slammed Kerk and the DAP for being bankrupt of issues and seeking vengeance as Gerakan had defeated two of DAP strongman  Kit Siang and Karpal Singh  in the 1999 general elections.

Keng Yaik had also criticised The Sunday Star report on his spat with DAP and vowed he would not apologise over the lie which he claimed he did not say.

Straight fight

Meanwhile, DAP publicity bureau Gobind Singh Deo criticised Barisan Nasional for making political gimmicks and handing out sweeteners but failing to deliver bare necessities to Ketari.

Gobind said the government failed to replace the old Bailey Bridge across Sungai Dua in Bentong despite knowing the dangers posed by the bridge for 10 years.

He added that Lims promise to help the Sungai Dua tappers in Ketari to get their rubber subsidies soon was an example of a sweetener.

The DAP may not be in a position to make such promises but it is certainly prepared to pressure the government to ensure such promises are met.

This is the importance of effective opposition and the need to wake the government from deep slumber-like sleep after elections and to insist that basic amenities are provided, Gobind said in a press statement today.

The Ketari by-election which will be held on March 31, will see a straight fight between Gerakans Yum Ah Ha and DAPs Choong Siew Onn.

The seat fell vacant following the death of its representative, Loke Koon Kam of Gerakan.

The Barisan Nasional candidate won with a 231-vote majority in the 1999 general elections, beating Choong who garnered 5,643 votes.

Ketari has 17,143 registered voters, of which 95 are postal votes. Chinese Malaysians comprise 53.83 percent (9,228) of the constituency, Malay Malaysians 39.12 percent (6,706) and Indian Malaysians 5.21 percent (843).

The Orang Asli comprise 1.3 percent (223), bumiputra from Sabah and Sarawak 0.21 percent (36) and others 0.33 percent (57).