Suqiu, or the Malaysian Chinese Organisation Election Appeals Committee today dismissed talks that it is trying to rekindle its controversial 17-point election appeals with a recent publication of a book that documents the committee's tumultuous past.

Its chairperson Quek Suan Hiang told malaysiakini today that the committee wants to put to rest the entire episode, which at its height saw threats from Umno Youth to burn down the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (SCAH) which housed the committee.

Good faith

The 554-page book, which contains press cuttings, letters and other documents regarding the 17-point appeal, is aimed at putting everything o­n record, said Quek who is also the United Chinese School Committees' Association of Malaysia president.

He denied the book was published in view of the coming general election, due in November 2004.

"No matter what, Suqiu had created an impact in Malaysian politics. We insisted our appeal was done in good faith and it was a correct move," he said.

"Most of the appeals are still very relevant and need to be further addressed. Although we will not raise them again since Suqiu is an ad-hoc committee, we believe opposition parties will continue pick them up."

Elaborating, Quek said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had also urged bumiputras at the Umno assembly last year not to rely o­n the various kind of assistance offered by the government such as the quota system.

The 17-point appeal endorsed by more than 2,000 Chinese associations was announced o­n the eve of the 1999 general election.

Among the points, it called for bumiputra privileges to be abolished, introduction of a merit-based education system as well as to have an equal treatment of women and indigenous people.

Controversy followed this appeal in August 2000 when Umno Youth took exception to the part concerning the removal of bumiputra privileges.

The movement, led by its deputy chief Abdul Aziz Sheikh Fadzir organised a protest outside SCAH and threatened to burn down the building if the appeals were not retracted with an apology.

The premier had also labelled Suqiu as "extremist" and likened the group to "communists" even though the government had initially accepted the document in principle before the general election.

Things cooled off after Gerakan stepped in to act as a mediator and following a series of high-level secret meeting, Suqiu finally agreed to withdraw seven sensitive points from its appeals.

No prominent role

Meanwhile, political analyst Khoo Kay Peng felt that Suqiu would not play a prominent role in the coming general election.

"Most of the committee members are no longer active in the grouping," he said when contacted. Khoo is the executive director of Sedar Institute, a Gerakan-linked think tank.

He also cited the changing scenario in the Chinese media in the country which would made it "pretty tough" for Suqui project their demand.

"The media scene is now different, especially after MCA took over Nanyang Siang Pau and China Press . It will be tough for the appeals to be highlighted again.

"Although the alternative media such as malaysiakini can take over this role, it is still a fact that the Chinese do not form the majority readers of the alternative media," Khoo added.

Another Chinese political analyst criticised the 'end' of Suqiu saying that the committee did not have long-term plans in articulating and developing its ideas.

"The committee collapsed and did not function at all after the meeting with Umno Youth. But today, when we look at those appeals again, we find they are still very relevant, pressing and urgent," said the analyst who declined to be identified.

"Suqiu's agenda is very close to the new politics following the emergence of reformasi in discouraging political racism," he added.

The committee has printed 1000 copies of the first edition of the book. It is available at RM50 each from Ms Tan at 03-8736 2337 ext 206.