Kit Siang: Umno/BN in new plot to wreck Opposition

Pakatan Rakyat afflicted with the greatest crisis since its formation seven years ago.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Umno leadership, warned DAP elder statesman Lim Kit Siang, is already orchestrating a new plot to try to further undermine Pakatan Rakyat (PR) and foment disunity and distrust among the three parties in the opposition alliance through the ploy of Umno/Barisan Nasional (BN) staying out of the Chempaka state by-election in Kelantan while going all out in the Permatang Pauh parliamentary by-election.

He noted that Umno leaders like Kelantan Chairman Mustapa Mohamad, Youth leader Khairy Jamaluddin and even Gerakan President Mah Siew Keong have been given the “green light” to sound out in public the proposal that Umno/BN should stay out of the Chempaka by-election, “giving all sorts of grand-sounding reasons to camouflage the political design behind such a move”.

The parliamentary and state by-elections follows the five-year jail sentence for Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim, upheld by the Federal Court on Tuesday 10 February, and the passing of Tok Guru Nik Aziz on Thursday night.

Lim was speaking at the inaugural DAP SSS (Support, Sympathy and
Solidarity) with Anwar Ibrahim ceramah at Dewan Orang Ramai, Taman Cheras Jaya, Selangor on Sunday.

In the spirit of national reconciliation to pave the way for the coming together of all Malaysians for a common national cause, regardless of race, religion and politics, added Lim, Umno/BN should be consistent and stay out of both Chempaka and Permatang Pauh.

As I said at the luncheon talk for Dr. Carl Vadivella Belle’s new book “Tragic Orphans – Indians in Malaysia” earlier on Sunday, continued Lim, there’s an urgent need for a National Reconciliation process regardless of race, religion or political belief, to save Malaysia from becoming a “failed state”.

“No Malaysian should end up as a ‘tragic orphan’ in Malaysia. We should counter the rise of extremism, bigotry and intolerance in our society.”

Lim, who is also DAP Parliamentary Leader and Gelang Patah MP, expressed no doubts that “Umno/BN strategists are burning the midnight oil to plan new plots to try to bring about the disintegration of PR”.

He conceded that the opposition alliance cannot and should not hide the fact that it is afflicted with the greatest crisis since its formation seven years ago, “even more challenging than the first crisis PR faced in September 2011, which nearly led to its end”.

PR can only sustain and succeed if we adhere to the two fundamental principles which had been the secrets of the PR success in its first six years, argued Lim.

Firstly, strict adherence to the PR Common Policy Framework which had formed the bedrock common principles of the three allies in the opposition alliance; and

Secondly, the operational principle of consensus regarding the Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council as the highest policy-making body for the opposition alliance.

“If we stay loyal to these two fundamental principles, PR will be able to grow from strength to strength to fulfill the hopes of generations of Malaysians for change and Malaysia’s rendezvous with greatness,” said Lim.

It was with this in mind, said Lim, that he proposed on Thursday in Alor Setar, a eight-year commitment by the three PR component parties to continue to uphold these two fundamental principles of the PR common policy framework and the operational consensus mechanism. “We have to put aside whatever differences we have for the next eight years, as we had done in the first six years, an Eight-Year Road Map for Pakatan Rakyat.”

The eight years, according to Lim, was derived from three years to the 14GE from now and the five years after the 14GE, “as PR must make a commitment to Malaysians as to the policies we are committed to implement in the five years in government if PR achieves power in Putrajaya after the 14GE”.

If the PR allies viz. DAP, PKR and PAS are prepared to make this eight-year commitment to forge a common struggle, and to put aside all issues not in consonance with the PR Common Policy Framework and the consensus principle, “we would have found the formula to ensure that Pakatan Rakyat is poised for a serious bid for Putrajaya to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of Malaysians for change for the better of the people and nation”.

It is most regrettable, said Lim, that he did not have the opportunity to discuss this Eight-Year Pakatan Rakyat Road Map with Nik Aziz as he passed way the same night.

“However, I have no doubt that Nik Aziz would not only have given his blessing but his full support, as he is undoubtedly one of the architects of Pakatan Rakyat, without whom Pakatan Rakyat would not have achieved the good results in the 2008 and 2013 General Elections.”

It is now for all PR leaders to strive to save Pakatan Rakyat from disunity and disintegration, which will be the greatest tributes to both Anwar and Nik Aziz for their life-long struggle and commitment for justice, freedom, human dignity and national unity, he pleaded.