An opposition party has called on Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to explain why approval has been given to the Federation of Peninsular Malay Students (GPMS) to hold rallies against Suqiu's 17-point election appeal.

DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang said in a press statement today this was urgent because Abdullah, who is also Home Minister, had recently called for a halt to the Suqiu controversy when he urged all quarters to stop debating on the issue as it was not beneficial.

"It is most surprising that there is not only no 'cooling off' period for the Suqiu controversy but a 're-heating' by GPMS with the approval of a police permit for its first mass protest rally in Kuala Terengganu," said Lim.

"Abdullah should explain whether his call to 'all quarters' to stop 'the reckless escalation of racial tension' still holds," he said, referring to Abdullah's speech at the Sixth World Federation of Foochow Associations convention in Kuala Lumpur last month.

Yesterday, GPMS announced the launch of its nation-wide rallies against Suqiu (Malaysian Chinese Organisations' Election Appeal) for allegedly questioning Malay special rights and calling for the abolishment of distinction between Bumiputra and non-Bumiputra.

First rally tomorrow

The first rally will be held in Kuala Terengganu tomorrow, followed by Malacca on Jan 14 and Penang on Jan 15.

Umno Youth had recently taken the initiative to meet with Suqiu's officials to diffuse racial tensions and end the controversy arising from the appeals.

Abdullah was reported to have said that action will be taken against those who continue to push the boundaries of racial tension by harping on the Suqiu issue.

He had referred to GPMS' response to Suqiu's "belligerence in presenting unreasonable demands" as "infantile and confrontational" and that the stoking the fire of intolerance and acting selfishly to the detriment of a strong, peaceful and united Malaysia "is not the way to build a Malaysia for all Malaysians".

He had also said "demands and counter demands had been made, demonstrations had been held and emotions had run high. All this must be stopped."

"Why then had the police given permits to GPMS to continue its 'infantile and confrontational' responses through a series of nation-wide mass rallies to escalate racial tensions?" asked Lim.

"Or is this outside the power and control of Abdullah, although he is Home Minister?" he added.

Undermined

Lim said Malaysians had thought that the Suqiu controversy had come to a rest, especially when the latter had reiterated that it respected and had never challenged Article 153 of the Malaysian Constitution which guarantees the special position of the Malays, and natives of Sabah and Sarawak.

Lim stressed that if GPMS is allowed to defy Abdullah's repeated call for a halt to the "reckless escalation of racial tensions" over the Suqiu controversy, his credibility as Home Minister and Deputy Prime Minister would be greatly undermined.