‘IRI held training courses for DAP’
KUALA LUMPUR: DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng has clarified that the International Republican Institute (IRI) did conduct training courses for party members.
He said the courses were on technical issues under the auspices of understanding democratic processes related to polling and communications.
However, Lim said, IRI had stated publicly that courses were conducted for both Barisan Nasional and other Pakatan Harapan component parties.
He said this in a statement yesterday following allegations that IRI worked with PH leaders to undermine the BN government.
IRI denied the allegations. In a statement on its website on Monday, IRI said it was a non-partisan organisation that had worked with partners in Malaysia since 2002 to strengthen the political parties’ ability to compete in elections and adhere to the practices of citizen-centred governance.
It said its activities involved participants from across the political and social spectrum.
IRI, heavily linked to the Republican party in the United States, describes itself as a non-profit, non-partisan organisation committed to advancing freedom and democracy worldwide by helping political parties become more issues-based and responsive.
Umno called for an independent and neutral party to investigate claims that IRI had interfered in Malaysian politics.
On Monday, Umno information chief Datuk Dr Shamsul Anuar Nasarah said since the judiciary and other enforcement agencies were under the government’s control, a special task force must be set up to ensure a fair probe.
Lim said having contacts with a think tank was different from having direct contact with the US’ Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) or other political parties, such as the Communist Party of China.
Taking a swipe at Umno and former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Lim said: “Unlike some extremists, there is nothing wrong for Umno to have contacts with the Communist Party of China to the extent that Umno leaders are invited to (its) top party meetings.
“Open communication should always be encouraged to promote understanding based on clear principles. However, having direct contacts with the CIA explicitly seeking aid for foreign intervention to sabotage the people’s mandate in the recent general election, is not only untenable and unacceptable, but also a betrayal of our country’s sovereignty.”