AUG 26 1999                                 The Straits Times Singapore

Big welcome for freed DAP politician
Lim Guan Eng walks out of prison after a year to a rapturous crowd of 3,000 supporters and opposition allies

By BRENDAN PEREIRA
IN KUALA LUMPUR

THE Democratic Action Party's Lim Guan Eng walked out of prison yesterday to a hero's welcome and instantly became the symbol of an opposition coalition seeking to dislodge the National Front.

A multi-racial crowd of 3,000 people took over a two-lane road leading to Kajang Prison chanting "Guan Eng is Back" and "Down with Mahathir".

Everyone wanted a piece of the DAP politician, who spent the last 12 months in jail for publishing a seditious document, for which he was sentenced to 18 months.

His jail term was reduced by a third for good behaviour.

Supporters of Parti Islam, Parti Keadilan Nasional and Parti Rakyat Malaysia jostled with one another to garland him with bright flowers, grasp his hand and hoist him.

What a difference a year makes. Then, a sparse gathering of mainly Chinese supporters of the DAP looked wretched as Mr Lim made his way to Kajang Prison.

His stock has since risen. In the absence of jailed former deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim, the opposition coalition views him as a unifying symbol that can reach out to the country's voters and convince them that the alternative movement is truly multi-racial.

Pas Youth chief Mahfuz Omar said yesterday: "He has fought for justice without concern about race. He fought for a Malay girl."

The opposition party politician was referring to the pamphlet which Mr Lim published, slamming the government for not pressing statutory rape charges against former Malacca Chief Minister Tan Sri Rahim Thamby Chik.

Mr Lim seized the opportunity yesterday. Standing on the roof of his father's black Mercedes, hemmed in by the enthusiastic crowd, he recalled: "Twelve years ago, I was detained under the ISA for defending the Chinese language and people who had been cheated by MCA-controlled deposit-taking companies. I was labelled a Chinese chauvinist.

"A year ago, I was imprisoned, apparently because I was inciting the Malays to go against the government. My offence was that I tried to defend the rights of an underaged girl who was raped. Now, I am called a Malay chauvinist.

"I am neither a Malay nor Chinese chauvinist but a loyal Malaysian who is fighting for a just society.

"I will continue the struggle and I am prepared to go to jail again.

"Although I have been jailed for a year, my dreams are still alive."

The cheers were rapturous and Mr Lim drew energy from it, pumping his arms upwards.

Surveying the mixed crowd, he said in Malay, English and Mandarin that he was only an ordinary person, yet so many people turned up to welcome him.

Why?

"Because we have a dream. We all have a dream for a country where there is fairness and justice," said the Australian-trained accountant.

Although a free man, he said he would be happy only when all those imprisoned unfairly by the Malaysian authorities had been released.

"Especially Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim," he said.

Last night, he began a nationwide roadshow to galvanise the opposition movement.

He shared the stage with Parti Keadilan president Datin Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, PRM president Dr Syed Husin Ali and Pas' Mr Mahfuz Omar at a ceramah in Kota Melaka, his constituency for the past three terms.

As a result of his conviction, he lost his seat in parliament and will not be able to contest elections five years from the date of release.

But all that was secondary for his father, DAP leader Lim Kit Siang, and other opposition leaders.

They were just glad that "Guan Eng is Back".



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DREAMS STILL ALIVE

"I AM neither a Malay nor Chinese chauvinist but a loyal Malaysian who is fighting for a just society. I will continue the struggle and I am prepared to go to jail again.

"Although I have been jailed for a year, my dreams are still alive...because we have a dream. We all have a dream for a country where there is fairness and justice."
-- Mr Lim Guan Eng