Lee out of line, says Guan Eng

**Just to clarify, Edward never "threatened". There were rumours that he'd be dropped, and a reporter called up to ask what would he do if DAP were to drop him, and he merely replied that he'd run independent.

By Sylvia Looi
http://www.thestar.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/10/10/nation/9664330&sec=nation

IPOH: Bukit Gasing assemblyman Edward Lee was out of line when he threatened to stand as an independent if he was dropped in the next general election, said DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

Lim said Lee's statement was completely unexpected as the assemblyman had not discussed the matter either with him or other party leaders.

“This kind of statement is out of line and completely unexpected. It is an unusual statement,” he said after opening the Perak DAP convention here yesterday.

It was reported that Lee had made it clear that he would quit the party if he was dropped as a candidate.

Lee, who was speculated to be one of the four DAP incumbents to be dropped, said he would contest as an independent if the party decided not to field him in the 13th general election.

In an earlier report, a party insider said Lee and three others Kota Alam Shah assemblyman M. Manoharan, Balakong assemblyman Yap Lum Chin and Damansara Utama assemblyman Dr Cheah Wing Yin might be dropped in the next general election.

He said Lee's declining health was the reason why he might be dropped, but Lee claimed that it was due to political agenda.

Lim admitted that it had been quite some time since he last met Lee although they communicated through the phone on several occasions.

On hudud, Lim said if it was not tackled carefully, the issue could affect Pakatan Rakyat in the next election.

What is important, Lim said, was for all three Pakatan parties not to lose sight of the fact that the opponent was Barisan Nasional.

Lim added that the hudud issue was turning into a psychological battle with Barisan.

“With the election around the corner, there is a psychological war going on,” he said.