Tunku Aziz sticks to his anti-rally stand
CONSCIENCE CLEAR: DAP senator says he will not support actions which are against the law
(NST) – DAP’s Senator Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim will not apologise for voicing out his views against the Bersih rally despite a public tick-off from the party supremo Lim Guan Eng.
In standing by his statement, the DAP vice-chairman said yesterday that he was merely voicing out his views on something which he believed in.
And at the same time, Tunku Aziz said Lim was entitled to issue any statement.
“I made my point based on my personal opinion, belief and conviction. My conscience in this matter is clear,” he told the New Straits Times yesterday.
The 78-year-old Tunku Aziz said that while he was in full support of citizens’ right to assembly, it does not mean that he supported actions which were against the law.
“I will not apologise for articulating values which I have always held — we must abide by the laws of the land.”
Tunku Aziz stressed that he had no quarrel with his party as his views were made based on personal conviction.
“My quarrel is with Bersih for insisting on a confrontation with the authorities. That to me is a non-starter. The issue is not where it is held but to voice out against unfair electoral practices, so does it matter where it is held? Don’t confuse the issue.”
Tunku Aziz acknowledged that he might have put DAP in an embarrassing light but stressed that he would not compromise when it came to the law.
“I support any movement to ensure free and fair elections but when it comes to breaking law, I draw the line.
“Lonely as it may be to be the lone dissenter, I value my conscience more than anything,” said Tunku Aziz, adding that he was prepared to face any disciplinary action from DAP.
Earlier, Lim accused Tunku Aziz of violating party processes when the veteran politician appeared to break ranks with the opposition by declaring in the Senate on Thursday that he opposed street demonstrations.
“Senator Tunku is alone among the entire DAP central executive committee in his stand on Bersih 3.0,” Lim said yesterday.
He added that Tunku Aziz had not informed the party that he would make his stand publicly and as such, had put DAP in a bad light.
