Lim Kit Siang, who proposed the formation of a new coalition government with lawmakers from both sides of the political divide amid the raging hudud imbroglio, said it must be inclusive of all races and forward looking.

He also said that under the stewardship of the new management, the nation's economy must be free from corruption, abuse of power and cronyism.

This, he added, would enhance efficiency, accountability, transparency and good governance.

"It must be fully inclusive of all Malaysian races, religions and regions, in other words, a multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-regional new Malaysian coalition government comprising Muslims and non-Muslims, Malays and non-Malays, and Malaysians from Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah.

"Secondly, it must issue a visionary and forward-looking programme to restore Malaysia’s greatness and allow Malaysia to punch above its weight in many areas of human endeavor, whether political, economic, social, educational, information technology or environmental," he added in a statement.

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The DAP veteran and Gelang Patah lawmaker said the new government must incorporate a 10-point programme for a high-performance, sustainable and equitable economy, which apart from a corruption free economy, are:

  • Workforce that is knowledge-based, competent and high-skilled.
  • Decentralisation and the empowerment of state economic management in keeping with the spirit of federalism and efficient expenditure to boost efficiency and productivity.
  • Affirmative action policies based on need.
  • Just treatment for workers to  ensure their welfare and prosperity, including minimum wage for all Malaysian workers.
  • Social safety net to ensure life with dignity at all times for Malaysians, strengthen the Employees Fund system, introduce a pension scheme for private sector employees and a National Retrenchment Fund to provide temporary financial support for those who have lost their jobs.
  • Increase the number of affordable housing and achieve the goal of "One Family, One House".
  • Guarantee good public infrastructure and facilities without burdening the people or profit certain cronies, like clean water and electricity at reasonable rates; review of all highway toll agreements to improve to improve efficiency and reduce cost of public transport system.
  • Protect environment and promote the practice of recycling, control deforestation and ensure smooth transition to the use of alternative energy resources.
  • Sustainable growth and green development by introducing modern, comprehensive and appropriate infrastructure for a low-carbon economy.
Detractors have dismissed Lim’s proposal as a diversion from the bickering in Pakatan Rakyat over the hudud bill pushed forth by PAS.

PAS, on the other hand, said the veteran leader’s willingness to work with rival MPs, albeit under the guise of wanting to safeguard the constitution, amounted to treachery .

Meanwhile, Lim once again reiterated that the "path-breaking" political initiative can only come about if Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak deviated from the stand of his predecessors that hudud law runs foul of the constitution.

"The ball as to whether Malaysians should seriously explore the idea of a new coalition government post-BN and post-Pakatan with a new prime minister to save Malaysia is now in Najib’s court," he added.