'What can Dr M offer for opposition to back BN?

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Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad may have asked the opposition to support a no-confidence vote against the prime minister while still retaining BN as government, but is the elder statesman willing to make equal concessions too?

PKR's Selayang MP William Leong entertained the idea of the continuation of a BN government after Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's ouster but said the new government must be willing to accept a slew of reforms.

"Can Mahathir tell us whether BN will do this if they remain in power?" said Leong in a statement today.

The reform efforts, he said, must include changes to the election commission and electoral system, reforms to the judiciary, attorney-general's chambers and enforcement agencies, restoring good governance, upholding integrity and transparency as well as restoring democracy and constitutional freedoms.

Leong expressed pessimism that the new BN government would be willing to initiate such reforms.

He pointed out that BN leaders still supporting Najib despite the controversy surrounding him was evidence that the problem was bigger than the prime minister alone.

"Removing the prime minister in a vote of no-confidence in Parliament is just a band-aid solution. There must be a major surgery to remove the cancer which has eaten into core of the government under BN for 60 years.

"This is demonstrated by Mahathir’s own failure to cajole Umno and BN into removing Najib.

"Mahathir’s call not only fell on deaf years but many rushed to kiss Najib’s hand and hoisted him on their shoulders like a rock star, casting aside the rule of law and justice to maintain political power at all costs," said Leong ( photo ).

BN has lost moral compass

As such, Leong said Mahathir's proposal to the opposition 'misses the point'.

"It is not just Najib who should be removed but that a total reform agenda must be implemented.

"The checks and balances that have been destroyed must be restored.

"Reforms must be undertaken to prevent those entrusted to defend the constitution and democracy from ever again abusing their position to maintain an illegitimate government in power.

"This reform must include removing BN which has lost its moral compass," he said.



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