DAP should not act against Tunku Aziz: Aspan Alias

KUALA LUMPUR: A recent addition to DAP's Malay membership Aspan Alias believes the party should not take any action against its national vice chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim for his criticisms against Bersih 3.0.

Aspan told The Mole that Tunku Aziz was merely stating his personal views and not that of the DAP.

“In my personal opinion, I do not think it is necessary for disciplinary action against Tunku (Aziz). He should not be punished for stating his personal views.”

“He has his views and we respect that. But obviously his views does not reflect DAP’s stance as we support Bersih for its electoral reforms agenda,” Aspan said when contacted today.

Aspan was asked to comment on DAP Kota Alam Shah state assemblyman M.Manoharan demands for disciplinary action and Tunku Aziz’s resignation following the vice president’s latest criticism against Bersih 3.0.

Manoharan said: “Tunku Abdul Aziz should leave the party if he cannot agree with us, especially on Bersih."

Aspan a former Umno member who joined DAP in January however said it is up to the party to decide.

On Saturday The Mole reported Tunku Abdul Aziz as saying that the Bersih organisers should look at themselves first before being so quick to blame the police for last Saturday's violence.

Prior to Tunku Aziz’s latest criticism, DAP’s national deputy chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw had said there were no plans for any disciplinary action against Tunku Abdul Aziz despite DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng statement that Tunku Abdul Aziz was an embarrassment to the party.

It was reported later that DAP’s disciplinary committee wanted the Penang senator to confirm his latest public disapproval of the rally.

Meanwhile Tunku Abdul Aziz in a text message reply stated there will be no comment from him for now.

Controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin wrote it is better for Tunku Abdul Aziz to resign gracefully from DAP or risk being demonised by the party.

“I started this piece by laying out your track record to remind all of us that you have contributed immensely to the nation. However, that one slip, if I may be permitted to call it that, is going to tarnish everything that you have done.

“You need to toe the party line. You have to do what is good for the party. And if you can’t do this then you have no business being in the party,” RPK, as he is popularly known, wrote.

When Tunku Abdul Aziz joined DAP in 2008, the decision was lauded by the DAP, describing him as a towering Malaysian.

Source: MOLE