In a tit-for-tat move, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang has challenged former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad to also stand in Gelang Patah to decide whose “political kubur” it would be.

Lim, in throwing down the gauntlet, said the ex-prime minister had come to Johor to help Umno-BN fight Pakatan Rakyat’s battle of Gelang Patah, in urging Johor people to end the veteran DAP leader’s political career.

The DAP parliamentary leader and Ipoh Timor MP asked whether Mahathir, who has given himself the best description of “the devil you know”, had really retired from politics

“I am sure everybody would answer “No”. In fact, Mahathir is more powerful than ever from ‘behind the curtains of power’, with him as busy as when he was prime minister for 22 years, with daily statements or speeches laying the ‘law’ for the Umno or BN leadership.

NONE “Mahathir ( right ) toppled Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as the PM after the 2008 general election and has openly threatened to bring down Najib Abdul Razak as the PM if the latter fails to secure a better win in the 13th general election. It is no exaggeration to say that Mahathir is in fact the ‘de facto’ PM, the person whom Najib fears the most as Mahathir is the man who could still decide Najib’s political fate!”

Lim said Mahathir is still so active in Malaysian and Umno politics, despite retiring in 2003.

“For this, I invite Mahathir to come to Gelang Patah to contest in the parliamentary elections and let the people of Johor decide whose political life should be ended, and whether Gelang Patah should the political ‘kubur’ for me or for him.”

“I am prepared to submit my political life to the people of Gelang Patah, a microcosm of Malaysian society, comprising some 53 percent Chinese voters, 33 percent Malay voters and over 12 percent Indian voters. Is Mahathir prepared to submit his political life to the voters of Gelang Patah?” he asked.

Gelang Patah had always been a BN fortress - with the ruling coalition winning with a majority of around 9,000 votes in the last general election, and a humongous 31,666 vote majority in 2004, said Lim.

Putting his head on the chopping block

Lim said he is putting his head on the chopping block by leaving Ipoh Timor, which he won with a majority of over 21,000 votes in the last general election, to contest in Gelang Patah.

azlan “With such a history of Gelang Patah general election results, Mahathir should win very comfortably with a stunning majority in Gelang Patah. I await Mahathir in Gelang Patah,” he challenged.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, has announced Lim as the candidate for the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat as the opposition Pakatan Rakyat mounts a move into Johor, which is recognised as the bastion for Umno and BN.

During the last general election, Lim was instrumental in seizing the silver state to Pakatan when he led the opposition’s challenge, resulting in it forming the state government.

The PKR de facto leader in announcing Lim as the Pakatan candidate had said that although Gelang Patah is a PKR seat, it was willing to make way for the DAP parliamentary leader to assist Pakatan in the assault.

However, Lim’s candidacy in Gelang Patah is not without problems as a furore had resulted as Johor PKR chief Chua Jui Meng was said to be eyeing the seat.