Q&A: Ill give Pak Lah two years to deliver, says Kit Siang

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Considering himself an eternal optimist, opposition leader Lim Kit Siang says new Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has two years to walk his talk. In this exclusive interview, the veteran politician also fields questions on the future of DAP and its succession plan.

Malaysiakini: What are the top issues you will raise as opposition leader in the coming parliamentary sittings?

Lim:

Parliamentary reform is one. We talk about good governance but yet there are government crises - election problems, education, the national service. The government suggested the National Integrity Plan (but) where is the role of the parliament? Our PM has not said anything about parliamentary reforms. In fact, in the past four decades we have stepped backwards. There must be a restoration - parliament must play a pro-active role in not only reviewing all progressive reports but also play a leading role in exerting pressure in this area.

How are you going to be able to push forward these ideas given an emasculated opposition?

It is very difficult with the number of opposition MPs. It is the weakest in the history of the country with a nine-tenth majority (for the ruling Barisan Nasional). But I think there is a window of opportunity arising from a change of prime minister. We don't know how far he is going to go, we don't know how sympathetic he will be. He has made all the right, beautiful commitments and pledges for a clean, incorruptible, transparent and people-oriented government.

So you will be relying a lot on Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's goodwill?

Yes, it would be a test of his commitment whether he is prepared to make some differences. Of course, one should be realistic and not expect him to go the whole hog of what we want. I don't expect him to make a full change, but at least he should be able to restore what we have lost and make some meaningful, little, gains here and there so as to start the momentum of change.

At present, there is an inertia - you don't move, no matter (whether) it is press freedom or the fight against corruption. It seems a little bit here and there, not fully committed enough. There is a window of opportunity. We try to be an eternal optimist.

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