Malaysia: Situation of the Democratic Action Party (DAP), its members and supporters since April 1998

Malaysia's leading opposition party, the Democratic Action Party (DAP), is predominantly Chinese, democratic and socialist (Political Handbook of the World 1997 1997, 525; Europa 1997 1997, 2144). In the 24-25 April 1995 general elections it retained only nine seats of the 20 it had won in the 1990 elections (Political Handbook of the World 1997 1997, 525; Europa 1997 1997, 2143). According to Europa 1997, DAP has 12,000 members (ibid., 2144).

Reports on the general situation of DAP members and supporters since April 1998, other than those relating to the continuing saga against MP Lim Guan Eng, the son of DAP leader Lim Kit Siang, could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

In early 1995 DAP deputy secretary-general and MP (Kota Melaka) Lim Guan Eng was charged with publicly criticizing the authorities for their handling of an alleged 1994 statutory rape case that reportedly involved a minister (AI 1 Apr. 1998; ibid. May 1998, 2). On 1 April 1997 Lim was found guilty of sedition and of publishing false news and fined RM 15,000, which would automatically have cost him his parliamentary seat (AI May 1998, 2; AFP 9 June 1998; Financial Times 9 June 1998). One year later, on 1 April 1998, the Court of Appeal replaced his fine with a three year jail sentence, although he was freed on bail while appealing the verdict (AI May 1998, 2; AFP 9 June 1998).

By 10 June 1998 the DAP had held approximately 40 gatherings in Lim's support (Asiaweek 26 June 1998a, 33). That night police arrested Lim Guan Eng at such a DAP dinner in Kuala Lumpur, along with four others who allegedly interfered with the raid, but all were released five hours later after they had given statements (DPA 11 June 1998; Asiaweek 26 June 1998a, 33; AFP 11 June 1998). Police claimed the organizers did not have the obligatory permit to hold such a gathering but the DAP leadership felt that the raid was politically motivated (Asiaweek 26 June 1998a, 33; DPA 11 June 1998).

Since 31 May 1998 police have broken up three to five such DAP support meetings allegedly because they do not have the proper permits, and have withdrawn the permit from a consumers group that wanted to hold a public forum to discuss the water shortage (AFP 9 June 1998; ibid. 14 June 1998; Asiaweek 26 June 1998a, 33; DPA 11 June 1998). DAP leader and members claim that the government has curtailed civil liberties and democratic freedoms out of fear that the recent events in Indonesia would occur in Malaysia (AFP 9 June 1998; Asiaweek 26 June 1998a, 33).

According to Asiaweek, "while cynics see the police raids as a top-down government offensive against any form of opposition, the crackdown is not being universally applied" (26 June 1998a, 33). Academic Dr. Chandra Muzaffar, who has protested the cancellation of these meetings and others, states that the local media have regularly published reports on official corruption and nepotism and have published his letters criticizing the lack of government accountability (ibid.).

On 8 June 1998, 29 NGOs and political opposition groups expressed their concern at what they viewed as a government attempt to stifle public opinion by preventing public meetings from being held (DPA 11 June 1998). Consequently DAP, Malaysian Socialist Party, Islamic Party of Malaysia and People's Party united to form the Council for Justice, Freedom and Good Governance to mobilize the masses, protest the restriction of civil liberties, and to prevent a move towards a police state (AFP 9 June 1998; EIU ViewsWire 16 June 1998).

Recently DAP has also suffered from internal difficulties. On 4 June 1998 DAP national vice-chairman Liew Ah Kim and treasurer Fung Ket Wing were suspended and national publicity secretary Wee Choo Keong removed allegedly for "undermining party morale, creating confusion, disharmony and disunity among members" (Asiaweek 26 June 1998b; Financial Times 9 June 1998). The Financial Times alleges, however, that the three DAP members were suspended for accusing leader Lim Kit Siang of "promoting the political ambitions of his son" (ibid.). At the end of June 1998 DAP vice-chairman in Sabah state, Oswald Mojingol, resigned, questioning these actions and "citing a loss of confidence in the party's national leadership" (Asiaweek 26 June 1998b).

Additional information on the current situation of the DAP and its members and supporters could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Agence France Presse (AFP). 14 June 1998. "Malaysian Opposition Slams Police for Disrupting Dinner." (NEXIS)

_____. 11 June 1998. "Malaysia-Opposition." (NEXIS)

_____. 9 June 1998. "Mahathir is Drawing Wrong Lessons from Suharto's Downfall: Opposition." (NEXIS)

Amnesty International (AI). May 1998. Malaysia: Opposition Parliamentarian Faces Three-Year Prison Sentence for speaking Out for Women's Rights. (AI Index: ASA 28/14/98). London: Amnesty International.

_____. 1 April 1998. Public Statement: Malaysia: Jail Sentence for Opposition Parliamentarian Politically Motivated. (AI Index: ASA 28/08/98). London: Amnesty International.

Asiaweek [Hong Kong]. 26 June 1998a. Santha Oorjitham. "The Police and Politics: A Crackdown on Public Assembly May Backfire."

_____. 26 June 1998b. "Opposition Within the Opposition." (NEXIS)

Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA). 11 June 1998. BC Cycle. "Groups Protest Police Disruption of Dinner by Opposition Party." (NEXIS)

EIU ViewsWire 16 June 1998. "Malaysia: Four opposition parties have joined..." (NEXIS)

The Europa World Hand Book 1997. 1997. 38th ed. Vol. 2. London: Europa Publications

Financial Times [London]. 9 June 1998. "Kuala Bare Observer." (NEXIS)

Political Handbook of the World 1997. 1997. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Additional Sources Consulted

Asian Survey [Berkeley, Calif.]. February 1998. James Chin. "Malaysia in 1997: Matathir's Annus Horribilis."

Asiaweek [Hong Kong]. Weekly. April 1998-present.

Index on Censorship [London]. Bi-monthly. January/February-May/June 1998.

People in Power [Cambridge]. 1 July 1998. Release #67.

Resource Centre. "Malaysia" country file. January 1998-present.

_____. "Malaysia: Amnesty International" country file. January 1998-present.

Electronic sources: Internet, IRB Databases, LEXIS/NEXIS.