PETALING JAYA: Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye says he stands by his statement as written in his recently released memoir, adding that he has no reasons to fabricate stories about the circumstances leading to his departure from DAP in 1990.

DAP veteran politician Lim Kit Siang had earlier refuted Lee’s statement about the reasons that led to the latter’s exit from DAP.

“I had said I quit the party because I was told by Lim that I would not be fielded for the 1990 parliamentary elections in the Bukit Bintang constituency, of which I was MP for four terms,” said Lee in a statement yesterday.

In his newly-released memoir, Call Lee Lam Thye – Recalling a Lifetime of Service, the former Bukit Bintang MP wrote of how he endured unbearable internal politics, including relentless allegations.

According to Lee, in the run-up to the 1990 general election, he was informed by the party leadership that he would be removed from Bukit Bintang.

Lee said if he was allowed to remain as the candidate in the same constituency with the assurance that he would be defending the seat, there was no reason for him to leave the party.

“This is the simple truth. There is no point in belabouring this point or prolonging this issue. It benefits no one. It belongs to the annals of history.

“As such, I wish to put this episode behind me,” Lee added.

“I did what I was supposed to do, to put the record straight in the face of vicious rumours against me during the 1990 election,” said Lee.

He also noted that he will not respond to any more similar comments from Lim or anyone else on the issue.

“Let the people be the final judge on my character and integrity and my relationship with Lim,” said Lee.

In Lee’s place, DAP fielded lawyer Wee Choo Keong, who won the Bukit Bintang seat, though Wee was eventually expelled from DAP in 1998.

On Sept 29, 1990, Lee, who was then DAP deputy secretary-general, stunned the nation when he announced his decision to quit without offering any reason, with his silence causing the rumour mill to go into overdrive.