Keadilan has a right to decide who it wants to admit as a member, DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang said today.

He added that the issue of admitting members was separate from maintaining good bilateral ties and enhancing mutual trust and confidence among component parties in a political front.

"I am still committed to the concept of Barisan Alternatif to restore justice, freedom, democracy and good governance to usher the country through a new political transition and to create new politics in Malaysia which are not so race-dominated but more issues-related," Lim said in a press statement.

He added that a front-page report by The Star newspaper today that he had decided to boycott all opposition front meetings involving DAP and Keadilan was "mischievous".

"The question of my 'boycotting' BA meetings does not arise at all and has never entered my mind," he said.

Lim yesterday requested his party to release him from all BA-DAP meetings to discuss the choppy relationship between the two parties.

Lim said he will be requesting DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock and another party leader to handle matters pertaining to the DAP-Keadilan relationship.

Great strain

The move was the latest in the on-again-off-again row between both parties which resurfaced in the wake of several Penang DAP members', including state leader Teoh Teik Huat, application last weekend to join Keadilan.

Lim said that Keadilan national leaders were sincere and honourable but were not fully aware of what was happening at ground and state levels, which imposed a great strain on bilateral ties.

Meanwhile, Keadilan deputy president Chandra Muzaffar today expressed regret over the differences that have arisen between the two parties.

He said that Keadilan and DAP should set aside their differences over membership applications and work together for the good of the people.

Chandra added that Keadilan agreed it should adhere to the three principles endorsed by the BA Council of Leaders in considering the membership applications of ex-DAP members.

Among the principles, endorsed before the 1999 general elections, were to give priority to cooperation and to respect the individual's right of free association consistent with the spirit of fundamental human rights and the Constitution.

Sarawak elections

It was also agreed that the parties were not to entertain membership applications from anyone involved in controversies which may jeopardise cooperation between opposition parties.

Chandra stressed that cooperation among BA parties was a paramount consideration particularly during the forthcoming Sarawak state elections.

"Any tiff between the parties will be exploited to the hilt by the Barisan Nasional-controlled media to divert public attention from BN's own internal conflicts which are rife and rampant," he added.