In Raya message, Kit Siang seeks 112 progressive MPs on both sides to form a Unity Government
(Malay Mail Online) – DAP’s Lim Kit Siang today called on “progressive and patriotic” lawmakers from the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) and the fragmented opposition to lay aside their political differences in a bid to save the country now faced with what he called “mega and intractable political and economic problems”.
Echoing PKR’s Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s remark yesterday, the DAP parliamentary leader said merely removing Datuk Seri Najib Razak as prime minister was not enough.
Lim asked his fellow MPs to come together to form a “national programme” through a simple majority in Parliament, saying they only needed 112 people to start a reformation wave in Putrajaya.
“We do not want piecemeal solutions but a serious commitment to reform and the end of corruption.
“A very tall order indeed ― unless there are at least 112 Members of Parliament, regardless of party affiliation whether in government or opposition, who are progressive and patriotic enough to unite on a common national programme to Save Malaysia from becoming a failed state because of rampant corruption, injustices and collapse of good governance,” the Gelang Patah MP said in a statement.
Ruling coalition Barisan Nasional (BN) currently forms the majority in the Dewan Rakyat with 132 seats, while opposition parties DAP, PKR, PAS, Parti Socialist Malaysia (PSM) and Sarawak Energy People’s Party (TERAS) holding to 88 seats followed by one independent seat.
Lim’s call for the unity of 112 MPs would require at least 24 MPs from BN to join the Save Malaysia coalition.
Lim also questioned if there was someone who could be the catalyst to create a new government, complete with a caretaker government, now that Anwar was in jail.
“With Anwar incarcerated in Sungai Buloh prison, is there anyone else who could surface to stitch together a ‘Save Malaysia’ coalition with the support of at least 112 MPs to re-set the country on a new course of comprehensive change in the governance and administration of the country even before the 14th General Election ― with a caretaker Prime Minister and a caretaker Cabinet?” he asked.
He pointed out that with Malaysia confronting racial infighting following the weekend’s Low Yat riot and Najib’s alleged embezzlement of RM2.6 billion from debt-ridden 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), among others, makes this the “worst of times” for the country.
He added, however, that with country’s resilience and the unity of the MPs, could make it the “best of times” for Malaysia.
Yesterday, Anwar said in a message conveyed by his lawyers, that it would mean little if Najib is replaced as prime minister while systemic corruption and abuse were not eradicated.
“We have gone through the futile process of changing leaders, but leaving the corrupt and obsolete system intact. We do not want piecemeal solutions but a serious commitment to reform and the end of corruption,” the former parliamentary opposition leader said in his message.
Lim first mooted the “Save Malaysia” coalition as his own personal idea in March, saying that the pact’s objectives would be specifically to defend the Federal Constitution and uphold the rule of law.
He even admitted in April that he was willing to work even with his nemesis Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in order to “save Malaysia” from the current policies that might plunge the country “down a slippery slope”.
