Abdul Aziz joins DAP, appointed party vice-chairman

Abdul Aziz joins DAP, appointed party vice-chairman
From Malaysiakini;
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.

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."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," he stressed.

My Comment:
There are those who thought that DAP is for Chinese only and this move by Tunku Abdul Aziz would put the record straight. DAP has been here for 47 years while PKR was born after Anwar was sacked by the UMNO 10 years ago.

The track records of DAP simply humble any opposition party in the country.Many Chinese still believe taht we need a strong DAP in Pekatan Rakyat to safeguard the interest of all Malaysian just as Tunku Abdul Aziz commented that DAP is consistent and truely uphold the principle of a non-race-based party.

The PKR still represent the mainstream Malays and the few Chinese leaders in the party is simply "expensable" and can't stand up to its Malays counterparts in PKR.I hope to see more youth, regardless of their racial and cultural and religious backgrounds, joining the DAP in Sibu and Sarawak.

David Wong
24-08-2008