MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik today advised Suqiu to withdraw certain clauses its [#1]17-point election appeal[/#] which were sensitive to other communities, for example the point on abolishing the Bumiputra and non-Bumiputra distinction.

Last Saturday, Ling said that Chinese lobby group should retract those demands "which make up only 2 percent" of the controversial petition.

"These (the 17 points) are long-term issues which need the right time and forum to discuss them," said Ling, adding that certain issues are best discussed behind closed doors.

"This applies to other bodies as well. For example, when we have cabinet meetings we do not disclose things to the press. Instead we discuss and analyse the people's request in a proper manner," he said.

Ling, also Transport Minister, further proposed that Suqiu (the Malaysian Chinese Organisations Election Appeals Committee) meet up with the Federation of Peninsular Malay Students (GPMS) to discuss the problems facing the two organisations over their appeals and demands.

The two groups should be encouraged to meet and discuss the issues peacefully, he stressed.

"It will be good if the two can meet, sit together and discuss things in a peaceful manner," he said after launching the Sinchew-i Powershop E-Commerce portal in Petaling Jaya.

GPMS, in retaliation to Suqiu's 17-point appeal which the former claimed has questioned Malay special rights, has apparently countered with a 100-point demand which is currently under embargo and is only for Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's eyes. ( [#2]Embargo on GPMS' 100-point demand[/#] , Dec 18)

The group is also planning a 100,000 people's gathering at the Bukit Jalil sports complex.

GPMS recently gave Suqiu a one-month deadline to withdraw its election appeals, insisting that it (GPMS) will not retract its demands as long as Suqiu persists in its appeals, first submitted to the government before the November 1999 general elections.

Among others, GPMS demands that the prime minister's position be gazetted for Malays only and that the quota for Bumiputra in public universities be set at 70 percent and in private universities and colleges at 60 percent.

In an immediate response, GPMS president Shuhaimi Ibrahim when contacted by malaysiakini said that his movement is prepared to meet with Suqiu leaders if "it is for the good of all parties".

Universal appeals

Ling stressed that the word Suqiu (in Mandarin) did not mean demand but rather "to appeal, even beg, in all humility". He said that most of the appeals were universal in nature as they referred to human rights and environmental issues.

He said that when Suqiu met him before last year's general elections, they had admitted that some of the issues were long-term issues.

He added that National Economic Consultative Council had been given the task of discussing Suqiu's appeals and it was meant to be done behind closed doors.

Asked on his comments regarding GPMS' 100-point demand and whether it is appropriate since the group is a student body and restricted by the Universities and University Colleges Act, Ling said that everyone should tolerate one another.

"In the heat of all the excitement, some may go beyond the parameters. We have to tolerate one another as sometimes even our own children misbehave," said Ling.

About 80 people attended the launch of the E-commerce portal, which is a joint venture between sinchew-I , a subsidiary of the Sin Chew Jit Poh Group, and KSM Dot Com, the Internet arm of Koperasi Serbaguna Malaysia.