DAP secretary-general Kerk Kim Hock has once again expressed frustration with comments made by Parti Keadilan Rakyat (Keadilan) leaders, including president Wan Azizah Ismail, over a snag in the plan to divide seats between their parties in the next general election.

Kerk's major grouse lies with the "most disappointing" comments made by Wan Azizah in a malaysiakini report in which she said he had not substantiated his accusation against Keadilan leaders.

When asked whether she believed DAP was playing racial politics, Wan Azizah said DAP had not explained or clarified accusations contained in the letter (written by Kerk). Instead, he had only expressed unhappiness over news reports quoting Keadilan leaders on the matter.

"Her comments seem to suggest that there is a lack of will on her part to really address the DAP's concerns about the manner in which Keadilan leaders choose to conduct the negotiation process," said Kerk in a statement today.

"What Azizah should have done was to address our concerns and direct that her party leaders conduct the seat negotiations with sincerity and in a professional manner, instead of asking us to clarify an 'unfair and baseless' allegation."

Keadilan's political bureau will be meeting this evening to decide on whether to continue seat talks with DAP.

'Orchestrated assertions'

Kerk also described various assertions by Keadilan leaders - since the suspension of talks between the parties was announced on Aug 5 - as "irrelevant", "untrue", and apparently "orchestrated to mislead the public...(and) tarnish the DAP's image".

Last week, Kerk had said the decision to freeze the negotiations had to do with the "persistent leak" of negotiation details, and "negative" and "unwarranted" criticism that Keadilan leaders had made to the press.

The final straw for DAP was when Kwong Wah Yit Poh (on July 31) and malaysiakini (on Aug 4) reported that Penang Keadilan leaders had criticised DAP for refusing to let go any of the Chinese-majority seats in the state.

Following the freeze on seat talks, Keadilan leaders continued to charge that DAP was playing 'racial politics', and insisting that this had been reflected in their position during the already-troubled negotiation process.

DAP however, has declined to comment on these accusations, demanding instead that Keadilan's leadership make clear indications that they will abide by the gag order agreed upon by both sides at the start of negotiations in March.

'Different with PAS'

"I fail to understand why, in the seat negotiations with PAS, Keadilan has never leaked any (of the) details," said Kerk.

"I also wonder why Keadilan has not attacked PAS as practising racial politics when PAS' interest has been to concentrate on Malay majority seats."

While history has shown DAP to be a multi-racial party, said Kerk, Keadilan leaders have chosen to reveal only half the picture - in effect, undermining DAP's image.

"During the 1999 general election seat negotiations, DAP disagreed with Keadilan and insisted on our right to contest non-Chinese majority seats on grounds that we are a multi-racial party," he said.

"Such unprofessional acts on the part of Keadilan leaders lead us to believe that (there is) a new attempt to repeat what they had done during the negotiations for the Teluk Kemang and Lunas by-elections - to try and influence the outcome of negotiation by orchestrating misleading public statements calculated to tarnish the DAP's image and weaken our position."

Meanwhile, DAP negotiator Loke Siew Fook joined the chorus questioning Keadilan's sincerity, following Keadilan vice president Azmin Ali's announcement yesterday of candidates for the Chinese-majority constituencies of PJ Utara and Ipoh Timur.

"The announcement has confirmed their insincerity towards DAP," claimed Loke, who together with national publicity secretary Ronnie Liu and Seputeh MP Teresa Kok, make up the DAP negotiation team.

"DAP has never announced any candidates....as we believe such announcements will only dampen the relationship between the two parties. (Keadilan) must realise that continued bickering in the media will bring no benefit to either party," he added.

"We are committed to reaching an understanding before the next general election, but Keadilan must be realistic in its demands."