DAP national publicity secretary Ronnie Liu today turned to the words of Mother Theresa in a bid to draw a lesson from the ruckus in Barisan Alternatif in the past week, especially DAP's public and acrimonious exchange with coalition partner Keadilan, over the selection of the candidate for the Lunas by-election.

"People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centred; Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.

"If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway. The good you do today, People will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway," Liu quoted the late Nobel laureate in a press statement today.

Stressing the party's commitment to the year-old BA coalition which also includes PAS and PRM, Liu said that the ball is now in Keadilan's court.

"DAP is in crisis thanks to the attitude and injustices of some of our 'partners'. Many members are disheartened by the episode and threaten to lie low from active politics," he said, citing the resignation of DAP deputy secretary-general M Kulasegaran.

The controversy in BA surrounding the Lunas candidacy began when both Keadilan and DAP wanted their candidates to contest the by-election, with Keadilan's initial choice of Saifuddin Nasution Ismail being at one stage being replaced by DAP's S Neelamekan [#1](BA substitutes candidate for Lunas with DAP's, Nov 18)[/#1].

The final decision by the BA Council to let Keadilan's Saifuddin contest resulted in DAP closing its operations centre in Lunas and claiming that it will not have anything to do with the by-election.

Saifuddin is facing MIC's S Anthonysamy and independent N Letchumanan. The seat fell vacant following the murder of the incumbent from BN, Dr Joe Fernandez, on Nov 4.

Liu stated that time was running out and BA could not afford to leave things as it is until the polling day on Nov 29.

"DAP feels that the dignity and the credibility of the party is important. The selection process has sidelined DAP and put DAP in a tight spot.

"Lunas is our seat. It should be the prerogative of DAP to choose its candidate. But some of the top BA leaders have insisted that DAP must put up a Malay or Chinese candidate should we contest in Lunas. It was a matter of principle that DAP insisted on an Indian candidate," he said.

Principles compromised

Liu claimed that some fundamental principles have been compromised in the Lunas candidacy selection process, which included the marginalisation of Malaysian Indians and the unprecedented overruling of the consensus principle.

"DAP has pointed out to the BA Council that putting an Indian candidate from DAP has an equal if not better chance of winning in Lunas.

"With issues such as Suqiu and Vision School, and the JE Humanitarian Fund concept still fresh in the minds of the people, DAP is set to win more Chinese votes in Lunas. It would be extremely difficult for the BN to garner Chinese support for what they have said and done to the Chinese community," he said.

Liu added that DAP was expecting its coalition partners to deliver the Malay votes for DAP in Lunas, but they had instead wrested the seat from DAP for the "so-called groundswell in Lunas."

He claimed that the groundswell in Lunas was artificially created by some individuals with a personal agenda.

"The so-called signature campaign and protest staged by the Malay voters were orchestrated by some local division leaders of Keadilan. They had in fact sent a letter to threaten DAP via fax before the demonstration. They even threatened to disrupt DAP on nomination day.

"If DAP was willing to go down to such a low level, we too can start a signature campaign and demonstration against Keadilan. But we did not. We preferred to mobilise our members and supporters to organise a 100-table dinner on Nov 23 to highlight the Vision School and other burning issues, and to raise funds for the New Era College," he added.

Tian Chua's 'sandiwara'

Liu also claimed that Keadilan vice-president Tian Chua's threat to resign in protest to a DAP candidate, "has proven to be just a sandiwara".

"Tian and DAP turncoats are working hand-in-hand. They are hoping DAP would pull out from BA so that they can take over the vacancy... He (Tian) should know too well that what he has done has severely damaged the credibility of BA.

"He has misled his own leaders that only (Keadilan candidate) Saifuddin can win the seat for BA," Liu said.