Ali’s A Joke, Says Kit Siang

(MySinchew) – Ali has made himself into a laughing stock by exhibiting his shocking ignorance of the law, ethics, politics, says Lim Kit Siang.

In a statement Saturday (21 Mar), the DAP Ipoh Timor MP said, "Disqualified UMNO Deputy President candidate, Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam just don't get it when he declared there was no reason for him to step down as Malacca Chief Minister after be was barred from contesting in UMNO party elections for money politics."

He even came up with the riposte that "If that is the case, then they should also ask Lim Guan Eng and Anwar Ibrahim to step down as they had been convicted and imprisoned before," he added.

"Both Guan Eng and Anwar were victims of an oppressive and vindictive political apparatus which used the system of justice to do its dirty work through malicious and selective prosecution, jailing them and disenfranchising them from elective office for five years, Lim said.

"Is Ali seriously suggesting that he is in the same shoes as Guan Eng and Anwar–a victim of a pernicious and vindictive political system as represented by UMNO?"

"Is Ali in the same shoes as Guan Eng and Anwar in having served a jail sentence and been barred from holding elective office for five years thereafter?" he asked.

"If Guan Eng and Anwar are convicted and imprisoned when they are Penang Chief Minister and Parliamentary Opposition Leader respectively, there cannot be no doubt that they will have to step down from their respective positions. Why is Ali claiming an exception?"

For someone who could emerge as a "hot-favourite" for election as UMNO Deputy President next week if he had not been barred because of involvement in money politics (euphemism for corruption), it is unthinkable that Ali does not know that his attempt to use the cases of Guan Eng and Anwar to hang on as Malacca Chief Minister is completely misguided, frivolous and baseless, Lim said.

Should Ali step down as Malacca Chief Minister after being barred from standing for UMNO Deputy President although he is the "hot favourite", because of involvement in money politics and corruption?

Lim said Ali should seek enlightenment from his old master, former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who had said that Mohd Ali should be treated the same way former UMNO vice-president Tan Sri Mohamed Isa Abdul Samad was treated in 2005.

He quoted Mahathir as saying Isa was thrown out because he was involved in money politics but he also lost his position as a minister.