Nothing wrong with DAP’s decision

KUALA LUMPUR: A former Umno member who recently joined the DAP said there was nothing wrong in his new party's decision not to extend the senatorship of its vice chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim.

Saying that the party reserves the right not to extend the senatorship, Aspan Alias who joined the DAP in January, believed the party has its own reasons in Tunku Abdul Aziz's case.

"Every DAP member should accept and abide to the party's rules."

Saying DAP's decision not to extend Tunku Abdul Aziz’s senatorship is a non-issue, Aspan said: “The party has its own reasons for the decision and it is not wrong at all. Besides, Tunku Abdul Aziz is not the only person whose senatorship is not extended.”

Aspan added, "the senatorship term is decided by the Penang legislative which of course is recommended by the party.”

Tunku Abdul Aziz's senatorship was not extended because he had spoken out against Bersih organisers.

Aspan, who had previously commented that the DAP should not act against Tunku Abdul Aziz, reiterated the comment was his personal opinion but when it comes to the party’s collective decision, every DAP member should respect it.

“That is why I also believe Tunku Abdul Aziz understands and accepts the party’s decision. He is a perfect gentleman, he knows what he is doing and the consequences of it. It is not wrong for the party to take action.”

A blog post at Outsyed the Box had pointed how an eloquent person like Aspan has been very careful in making his statement since joining the DAP as compared with his 30 years Umno.

Posing the question directly to Aspan, the blogger Syed Akbar Ali said: " I don't think you ever used the phrase "this is my personal opinion only" when you were in UMNO.

"You are afraid that if you don't say "it is my personal opinion" then the DAP Chinese will kick you out as well?"

Asked to comment on his silent over the party’s decision (on Tunku Abdul Aziz) Aspan said there was no need for him to speak out when the the DAP did not do anything wrong with regards to the matter.

Aspan however said if the party were to commit a wrongdoing, he will not keep quiet about it.

“I have never been quiet. If I want to say something, you will know. But so far, I do not see anything wrong in the party so why should I make noise?”

Another blog, the HHalem blogspot, had pointed out that Aspan and another new Malay member in DAP, Datuk Mohd Ariff Sabri Abdul Aziz or better known in the blogosphere as Sakmongkol should take cue on the party’s treatment towards its Malay members and to review their position.

Commenting on this, Aspan said: “Firstly, the party’s decision (against Tunku Abdul Aziz) is not a decision against the Malays.”

“Every DAP member is not defined by their race. They don’t even have race’s column in their membership forms.”

He added, “as a party member I always believe in toeing to the party’s line. I am not here (in the DAP) for the position. I am here because I trust its struggles.”

Source: MOLE