An opposition leader lambasted a local Malay daily today for questioning if he was attempting to create racial tension by his remark that unfilled university places should be released to deserving non-bumiputra students.

DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang said Berita Harian 's question on whether he was trying to create racial tension or not was most unwarranted, provocative and intolerable in the context of multi-racial Malaysian politics.

"This is especially so as DAP had never suggested the denial or deprivation of any single university place to a bumiputra student, but wanted all deserving non-bumiputra students to be given places in the public universities," said Lim.

Berita Harian devoted a full editorial on Lim today for ticking off one of its reporters, with the headline ' Tidak ada silapnya Berita Harian pertahankan hak Melayu (There is nothing wrong in Berita Harian defending Malay rights)".

Yesterday's drama unfolded at the Parliament House lobby, when the journalist questioned Lim about his statement on the 7,168 unfilled university places by asking: "What is the real purpose of you making this statement? Of course you claim injustice or whatever but are you going to create racial tension, Mr Lim?"

Lim, who appeared flustered by the question, queried the journalist on where she was from. When the latter replied, the opposition leader retorted, " Berita Harian has taken a very racial line".

"Ask your editor to appear on TV3 and I will prove how the paper has been very racial. I hope the reporters are not racial-minded as their editors," added Lim.

'Unfit to be a Malaysian'

Lim explained that it wasn't his intention to create racial unhappiness as the DAP supported the right of bumiputra students to be assisted.

This should be done, he said, to recruit them into the fields of engineering, medicine and information technology.

However, it was improper to fill those places with arts or Islamic Studies students when they cannot be filled by qualified bumiputra students, he added.

Lim had demanded the reporter to apologise for her "racial" question and when she refused, he said that she was unfit to be a Malaysian because she asked racist questions.

" Berita Harian is guilty of gross distortion and journalistic sensationalism when it misled its readers by claiming that I am an expert in stripping someone of his or her citizenship status and that my comment that she was unfit to be a Malaysian was too far-fetched," said Lim.

For the record, Lim stressed that he said the reporter was not fit to be a Malaysian if she is unrepentant in asking racially provocative questions on issues which had nothing to do with race.

Grow up

Lim claimed that Berita Harian neglected to report that in filling up the 7,168 science university places, the 11,376 bumiputra STPM students who have failed to get admitted into universities should be considered.

He added the daily also omitted that he had said that no one from the two batches of matriculation students - subsequently announced to explain away the initial disclosure that there were about 7,000 places available - should be displaced in the filling up of the vacant science places by eligible science candidates, whether bumiputra or non-bumiputra.

Berita Harian concluded in the editorial thus: "If Lim, The Star and the Chinese newspapers feel responsible in defending the rights of the Chinese community, we do not see any wrong in Berita Harian defending the rights of the Malays; So how can Berita Harian be considered racist when DAP, in defending the rights of the Chinese, is not considered racist".

In response, Lim said in a press statement today: "So let me tell Berita Harian : Grow up as a Malaysian institution. There is nothing wrong in defending Malay rights. But don't just defend Malay rights. Defend the rights of all Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, as well."