PAS MB: DAP misled Chinese, says Keng Yaik

Outspoken Gerakan veteran Lim Keng Yaik today slammed the Perak DAP leadership for opportunistically forming an alliance with hardline Islamic party PAS and agreeing to the appointment of a PAS menteri besar.

“They have misled the Chinese. I challenge them to ask their constituents if they want a PAS menteri besar. If most of them do, I will quit politics forever!” Keng Yaik said sternly during a press conference in Ipoh today.

DAP swept all 18 seats it contested in the recently concluded general elections and will form a new state government that would include seven PKR and six PAS state assemblypersons.

The three parties left the choice of a menteri besar to Perak Sultan Azlan Shah who eventually picked Pasir Panjang state assemblyperson Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin from PAS.

Keng Yaik said that DAP, which had always claimed to be against PAS’ Islamic state agenda, had gone against their word by agreeing to a PAS man heading the state.

“How can they betray their electorate? If you don’t join the new government you won’t die. They have shown that they have no principles,” said Keng Yaik, who has led the predominantly Chinese Gerakan for 25 years since 1980.

DAP cannot stop PAS

Lim believed that DAP had accepted Nizar as the menteri besar since the election results were announced and that party supremo Lim Kit Siang was forced to put up a ‘sandiwara’ (shadow play) to appease their Chinese supporters.

Kit Siang had on Wednesday issued an order, that was later withdrawn, for all 18 DAP Perak assemblypersons to boycott Nizar’s swearing-in ceremony yesterday, which was put off at the eleventh hour.

“I can assure that all 18 of them would sign the pledge to support the sultan’s choice. They support Nizar (all the way),” he added.

Lim also said that even if DAP had the majority of state executive councillor posts, there was no way the party could stop a PAS menteri besar from pursuing policies with Islamic undertones.

He explained that unlike the federal government cabinet, a menteri besar is vested with powers that does not require him to consult the 10-member state exco at all.

“He (Nizar) will be pressured from his party’s top leadership. Don’t you think he would take the religious path (in his policies)? Can the DAP really stop him?” he added.

Previously, Nizar and members of the new state coalition government have repeatedly stated that they would endorse the sultan’s choice as menteri besar and would make collective decisions in governing the state.

He bumps into DAP leaders

After his press conference today, Keng Yaik stumbled upon DAP Perak top two leaders Ngeh Koo Ham and Nga Kor Ming at a restaurant and had a short exchange with the duo.

After congratulating the duo, Keng Yaik could not hide his brash style and told them off for allowing a PAS man to become the menteri besar.

“I don’t understand how can you support a PAS menteri besar,” said Lim.

“But it’s the sultan’s choice,” said Ngeh.

“Don’t hide behind the sultan. Don‘t try and bluff this old man,” retorted Keng Yaik.