It is not DAP but opportunists in Barisan Alternatif, who are intent on trying to destroy the sincerity and good cooperation between BA component parties, a DAP leader said today.

DAP Socialist Youth national secretary Hew Kuan Yau told malaysiakini that the commitments of the DAP central committee and grassroots were in line with BA policies.

He refuted Parti Rakyat Malaysia national treasurer Koh Swee Yong's claim yesterday that DAP was not able to persuade its members to accept BA policies and therefore should leave the opposition front. ([#1] Leave if grassroots reject BA, DAP told [/#], March 13)

"PRM, instead of regretting Sarawak DAP's withdrawal from BA, should objectively analyse the reasons behind that withdrawal," Hew said.

Yesterday, Koh urged DAP to leave BA if its leaders cannot persuade its grassroots members to accept BA.

He expressed regret that Sarawak DAP had announced its pullout from BA early this month and alleged that since its participation in BA, DAP leaders had been issuing contradictory statements.

Hew said that opportunists in BA would always create conflicts to weaken the opposition front whenever there was a major squabble with the Barisan Nasional government.

He cited the example of the recent SJK (C) Damansara relocation issue and said that while the campaign was going on, 'opportunists' had created problems in Penang to destroy unity among the BA component parties.

Political reality

Problems between the two parties erupted when former Penang-based DAP strongman Teoh Teik Huat announced his resignation from DAP and expressed interest in joining Keadilan.

This was followed by DAP chief Lim Kit Siang requesting to be released from all BA meetings concerning DAP and Keadilan.

DAP Penang later announced that it wanted to 'loosen' its relationship with Keadilan, alleging that the party had been campaigning at grassroots level to lure DAP members.

Hew said that if PRM was really concerned about unity in BA, it should slam the opportunists.

"These are the people who are always ready to accept DAP's withdrawal from BA. Why does PRM allow this?" he queried.

He also questioned PRM's principles and ideology, saying that while he respected PRM's strategy, DAP was willing to empower and reform itself within the party to re-establish support.

"We would rather protect and enhance the party's principles than sacrifice our image for the sake of political reality," Hew said, referring to the PRM-Keadilan merger.

He added that in 1990, when the Soviet Union dissolved, PRM abandoned socialism.

"Historically, this is a backward move. However, DAP Youth congratulates PRM's decision to merge with Keadilan as this was the correct decision," he said.

'Most shocking'

Meanwhile, in a press statement, DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock queried whether Koh had the authority to issue his statement yesterday.

Kerk said that Koh's statement was "most shocking coming from a leader of a component party of BA".

"The important question is whether the statement was made with the authority, consent and knowledge of the top PRM leadership in particular its president, Dr Syed Husin Ali," he said.

Syed Husin, when contacted, told malaysiakini that there was an understanding in the party that its executive members were allowed to issue statements.

"I am aware of Koh's statement, but have not seen it yet as it is in Mandarin," he said, adding that he will comment on it later.