Selamat Hari Raya, PM Ke-7
Although Kit Siang is just a member of the DAP’s Central Executive Committee and nothing more, he is the hidden hand behind the CEC and especially his son, Lim Guan Eng (Tokong) who is the party’s Secretary-General.
SeaDemon Says
Will the real 7th Prime Minister please stand up?
When I first set my eyes upon the photo above late last month, I thought of individual monologues based on the body language shown by the individuals in the photo.
Lim Kit Siang: “I am only holding this up because I will need the support of the Malays in PKR.”
Mahathir: “Anwar as the 7th PM? No way, Jose!”
Azmin: “I don’t really want to put this up but I need the party to vote me for the top post.”
Wan Azizah: “Better him than me. I am clueless most of the time!”
The above photo is the perfect depiction of how the Opposition front is in a disarray. Each of the parties in the Pakatan Harapan want to become the Big Brother. PKR believes that it has what it needs to lead the coalition; Pribumi believes that it should have the lead role as it has a former Prime Minister as well as a former Deputy Prime Minister (and throw in a former Menteri Besar who did virtually nothing for the state he governed); while the DAP knows that it is the Kingmaker in the coalition, and no matter who becomes the Pakatan’s PM, they call the shots.
However, if those above were actually sincerely hoping for Anwar Ibrahim to become the next Prime Minister, they would be utterly disappointed as Anwar had recently announced the removal of himself as the coalition’s PM candidate. The announcement leaves the race to become the Pakatan’s Prime Minister candidate to just two persons – Azmin Ali, PKR’s current Deputy President and Menteri Besar of Selangor, and U-Turn Mahathir, a former Prime Minister who stepped down but now misses the power that comes with the seat.
Wan Azizah does not come close to being the person either Azmin or Mahathir are.
But what of Lim Kit Siang?
Lim Kit Siang is the de facto father of the Opposition, no matter by what name you call it. Although he declared that he is not interested in the post of the Prime Minister, everyone knows that he does not have to be in the seat to actually rule the country. Nizar Jamaluddin, the JKR engineer who once went on to become Perak’s Menteri Besar, contested on PAS’s ticket but became the MB because his mother is related to Perak DAP henchmen Ngeh Koo Ham and Nga Kor Ming. Through Nizar, the DAP managed to get things done its way, including giving leasehold land to Chinese New Villages inhabitants for 999 years!
Although Kit Siang is just a member of the DAP’s Central Executive Committee and nothing more, he is the hidden hand behind the CEC and especially his son, Lim Guan Eng (Tokong) who is the party’s Secretary-General.
Lim Kit Siang is known to use whatever means at his disposal to make sure he stays in power.
Those born in the mid-1970s and onwards may not have heard of the name Goh Hock Guan. He was the DAP Secretary-General who was involved in a power tussle with Kit Siang.
Hock Guan, who was also the Selangor DAP Chairman, wanted to field Lau Dak Kee in the Ulu Selangor by-election but Kit Siang favoured (now Tan Sri) Lee Lam Thye.
The repeat of this was in Johor during the 13th General Elections where Kit Siang and Tokong pushed aside then-state DAP Chairman Boo Cheng Hau and fielded their minions in order to hold on to power.
Kit Siang’s next move was to expel Hock Guan from the party. Others who were expelled included Dr Soarian, Chan Teck Chan, Seow Hun Khin, Chin Nyuk Soo and Goh Lin Eam.
Goh Hock Guan, in his letter to Cheng Man Hin, said,
“I don’t want to have any relationship with Lim Kit Siang. We’re totally adverse in terms of viewpoints and personality. As long as Kit Siang is holding the position as the Secretary-General of the DAP, he would definitely and finally destroy the future of DAP.”
Lee Lam Thye was made the Deputy Secretary-General but without power nor authority. Under Kit Siang’s orders, Lam Thye was not allowed to give views nor comments of any dissatisfaction. But he had an impeccable record of service to his constituency, and this threatened Kit Siang’s position.
On 29 September 1990, Lee Lam Thye dropped a bombshell announcing his departure from the DAP. He said,
“A few leaders had hurt me from behind…I can’t stand anymore.”
After Lam Thye’s resignation, Lim Kit Siang issued a gag-order on the DAP ordering all party members to ‘shut-up’, avoiding giving any statement, view or statement through the media.
