Veteran politician Lim Kit Siang has been around long enough to know when something is amiss - that odd piece which does not fit in the puzzle.

Now, the 68-year-old opposition stalwart's spider sense is tingling in reaction to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's sudden warm reception towards the Umno-PAS unity talks.

He has questioned if the real motive behind the 'unity talks' is to create disunity in the opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat which comprises PAS, PKR and DAP.

najib tun razak 220509 Describing Najib's 'latest tango' on the matter as 'highly suspect', Lim wondered why the premier issued a statement saying he believes that PAS is sincere and that Umno will not reject any cooperation which benefits the nation.

"Why has Najib suddenly warmed up to the idea of a unity government when only three days earlier deputy premier Muhyiddin Yassin poured cold water on it, dismissing the proposal as unlikely with differences within PAS itself and the Pakatan parties?" he asked in a statement.

He further quoted Muhyiddin as stating that Umno was prepared "to respond to the proposal if it was mutually beneficial but would not do so now. Until today, there is nothing concrete."

"Why has the top Umno leadership suddenly changed tack on this issue, if not to exploit what they perceive as opportunities to exploit differences and contradictions in PAS and Pakatan," he charged.

Components, speak up

Lim also asked what is the stand of Barisan Nasional component parties such as MCA, MIC and Gerakan on this issue.

"Are they just simply dumb and irrelevant in the highest echelons of the BN leadership?" he said, adding that DAP has made its objection to the talks clear.

lim kit siang on conversion case 210409 03 "I don't see MCA or Gerakan asking for an explanation from Najib. Why?" he asked.

Lim also said that he has been hounded by the media following PAS secretary-general Mustapha Ali's statement that PAS will hold unity talks with Umno only if PKR and DAP are included.

However, the Ipoh Timor MP said he will wait for Mustapha's explanation at the Pakatan leadership council meeting on Monday before reacting.

"However, I will like to hear not only what Najib and other Umno leaders have to say, but what MCA, Gerakan, MIC and other BN component parties have to say about Mustapha's proposal.

"Or are MCA, Gerakan, MIC and the other BN component parties not allowed to react before Umno has decided on the line that must be adhered to by all in BN?" he added.