CLAIMS that DAP supports violence following the arrest of two of its politicians over alleged terror links are slanderous and malicious, the party’s organising secretary said.

DAP has never condoned violence, Anthony Loke said today, adding that the party has always respected democracy, Parliament and the election process, even back as a member of the opposition.

“DAP will never choose violence to achieve its political goals. DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang had been arrested many times under the Internal Security Act and we have lost in nine out of 10 elections, but we still follow the democratic and election process.

“Not once have we resorted to violence to convince the people to vote for us,” he said after visiting the family of detained Seremban Jaya state rep P. Gunasekaran at Kg Baru Rahang today. 

Gunasekaran and another elected rep, Gadek state assemblyman G. Saminathan, were arrested on Thursday over alleged links to the defunct Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) terror group.

They were among seven arrested under the Security Offences and Special Measures Act (Sosma), which allows for detention up to 28 days without a charge.

Loke, who is also transport minister, said he would not use his federal position to intervene in police investigations and refused to comment on whether he thought the arrests were part of any political agenda.

Loke, who is also DAP Negri Sembilan chief, said he knew Gunasekaran as a grassroots leader and said he was well-loved by his constituents.

“We have to respect the process. We will not intervene in the police probe. But we hope their rights will be respected,” said Loke, urging the police to also tend to Gunasekaran’s health needs. 

He also urged police to allow Gunasekaran’s family members to meet him, as those detained were still barred from receiving visitors.

Yesterday, another five people were arrested as part of the probe into the LTTE’s supposed revival, bringing the total to 12 in police custody. – October 13, 2019.