Dr Lim Keng Yaik, minister and president of Gerakan, has again created controversy over his statement on the so-called social contract. Lim, who is said to be facing pressure to make way for a new Gerakan leader, claimed that he said no such thing.

This is the second time Lim had accused the Utusan Malaysia of misquoting him. Not long ago, he created an uproar over his 'statement' calling for the abolition of Islamic elements in national schools in order to attract non-Malay parents to send their children there.

The question is, is Utusan guilty of distortion or did Lim, politician being politician, indeed say those things but got scared when he realised the ramifications of his uttering. Before Dr Jacob George comes to Lim's defence, he must realise that in this situation, more often than not we should believe the newspapers rather than the politicians. In the Malaysian context (with all the laws governing newspapers), I don't think newspapers have any hidden agenda.

In so far as Lim is concerned, we should look at a bigger picture. We know that Gerakan, DAP and MCA are all fighting for the same 'customers'. So like Umno politicians vs PAS politicians, Lim will do anything to ensure that the Gerakan is seen to be fighting for the rights of all Malaysians, particularly the Chinese.

And looking at squabbles in the MCA and the darkening days of the DAP, he probably feels that Gerakan is the rightful inheritor of the struggle for the Chinese.

Isn't it strange that following his 'gaffes', Lim only resorted to explaining what he actually meant to the prime minister. Why don't he sue Utusan for libel? In the future, it would be wise for Lim and other politicians to produce transcripts of what they actually said.