It is unbecoming of DAP's Lim Kit Siang, as a leader of national stature, to criticise a fellow opposition leader publicly on an issue he himself has not heard of or is unable to ascertain its true context. We are fed-up with his antics to smear other opposition leaders just to cover up DAP's and his own increasing unpopularity with the people.

We regard this quote, "Keadilan Wanita chief had encouraged the defections in her address at the opening of the women's wing meeting in Kemaman on Friday" in the New Straits Times (Nov 12) to be an irresponsible and damaging slander to the Keadilan Wanita chief Fuziah Salleh. We, as delegates at the meeting, feel that it is uncalled for.

It is our belief too, that such style of purposely highlighting what was not meant to gain political mileage, is obsolete of politicians of the age of reform.

The absence of DAP women representative(s) at the wing's AGM was expected by the organiser as when contacted all had given reasons for their inability to attend. There was thus no DAP representative to relay the truth about what was said at the Keadilan women's meeting.

We are rather sad and disappointed that the DAP left the Barisan Alternatif. Fuziah had rightly said that the pullout should not dishearten Keadilan women to the extent of losing our focus on our mission to wrest the leadership from Barisan Nasional via the democratic process.

The current line-up in Keadilan leadership gives hope to many, especially from among the non-Malays communities including those in Sabah and Sarawak; consequently, posing a threat to the status of DAP as the established champion of the minority.