Tunku Abdul Aziz, a former special adviser to the United Nations secretary-general, has today become one of the few prominent Malays to have joined DAP.

And within 24 hours of his admission to the predominantly Chinese party, Abdul Aziz was tabbed as the party's vice-chairman.

According to him, DAP is more consistent on its stand regarding issues of transparency, accountability and multi-racialism than another opposition party, PKR.

dap 15th congress 240808 tunku abdul aziz The former Transparency International president, who joined the party yesterday, told a press conference held during the DAP annual congress that it was this consistency which attracted him.

"I have been targeting DAP for 20 years and they have been talking about consistency, transparency, accountability and the need to establish a non-race-based party.

"I feel much more comfortable (with DAP) and I trust the people around me. I joined DAP for what it stands for, a party that has been very consistent with its beliefs," he said in response to a question on why he did not opt for PKR.

Abdul Aziz believes that for a Malay to join a pre-dominantly Chinese party would mark the death of race-based politics in the country.

"I am a Malay. Many would expect me to join Umno but no, I made up my mind and it is DAP that I choose and I see no future in race-based political parties," said Abdul Aziz, who is also former Bank Negara advisor.

A 'junior' vice-chairman

Despite his ‘junior’ status, Abdul Aziz has been appointed as vice-chairman catapulting him into the top echelon of the party.

Speaking at the same press conference, DAP stalwarts like Lim Kit Siang and Karpal Singh welcomed Abdul Aziz to the party.

tunku abdul aziz 250808 "He is a Malaysian par excellence. It is a momentous decision and to have him in the political arena would help spread much needed justice. I hope with this, more Malaysians would come forward and help us create a much better Malaysia," said Lim.

Karpal on the other hand, described Abdul Aziz as a Malay intellectual and also conveyed his hope that his membership in the Chinese dominated party would trigger a domino effect.

"With Abdul Aziz in the party, it proves that those who labeled DAP a Chinese chauvinist party were wrong," he said.

Meanwhile, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng dismissed the suggestion that Abdul Aziz’s appointment was a move to appease certain quarters. "We do not have appeasement policies," he said.