YOURSAY | 'The only common goal is getting Najib out - is that justification enough to work with Mahathir? '

I'm too old to be a hypocrite, Kit Siang tells critics

Goldee: Hats off to DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang. He has forgiven, but not forget, those who had done wrong to him. Likewise, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim said he too has forgiven what former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad had done to him.

Only great men have this wisdom in them. They are not selfish, for they fight and strive not for themselves but for the people and the country. They only look forward and not backward. For this, I salute these two great individuals.

I believed deep in Dr M's heart, he might regret certain of his policies or actions. We don't need him to apologise, but he has to admit the wrong decisions he made during his tenure as a PM.

Over50ABU: The only common goal is getting PM Najib Razak out - is that justification enough to work with Mahathir?

Signing the Citizens’ Declaration is letting Umno survive. If this is not hypocrisy for your own selfishness, what is?

Oh Ya?: How could the 'Mahathir Declaration', which has only one agenda - that is removing Najib - bring about a more united nation and a more just and prosperous society?

And how could Lim entrust Mahathir and his cohorts, who are equally guilty as, if not more than, Najib for jolting this country into the current dire situation to "save Malaysia"?

And he is willing to form a unity government with Umno under the leadership of the rebels, never mind Umno wouldn't change its racist policies and renounce corruption.

Was former PM Ahmad Abdullah Badawi, who was given two-thirds majority in GE11, able to change anything? None.

Didn't Lim trumpet strongly in GE12 and GE13 that PAS wouldn't implement hudud? If these acts are not hypocritical, unprincipled and opportunistic enough, what are they?

Awakened: Lim is emulating South Africa's Nelson Mandela who decided to work with the party who had jailed him for 27 years after he was released.

Mandela buried the past and focussed on the more important task of rebuilding the country, which was torn apart by the aparthied policy.

Although it was Mahathir who had jailed him, Lim's love for the country has enabled him to focus on the more important task of saving the country.

VP Biden: Indeed, Mandela forgave the perpetrators who had stolen his land, time, family and peace for the future of his nation. That is a sign of a great leader.

Not everyone thought he was right, even those within the African National Congress. He did it nevertheless.

Anonymous_1375151044: It's not easy to forgive and forget. What Mahathir did to Kit Siang and his son, Lim Guan Eng, when he jailed them under Ops Lallang, was unforgivable. Yet Kit Siang said he won't be held back by the past to save the country.

"There are wrongs in the past, but you have to decide what is more immediate - the now and the future - or focus on the past." Spoken like a true Malaysian.

Well done, Kit Siang. Only those with pirates as their ancestors would think of nothing else but how to plunder the country.

Anonymous_1371547149: Kit Siang is a man of integrity and honour. I just hope that his trust in those Umno rebels won't be misplaced.

Shovelnose: Personally I don't see how this new movement or declaration can succeed where others in the past have tried but failed.

However, it's better to have another front, which is a bit more inclusive, to try to dislodge that useless man.

If the fervent critics against this movement can suggest, or better yet, make a positive and effective killer stance to remove the immediate cog, it would be greatly appreciated.

Prudent: 'Shovelnose', I would say let the ‘ketuanan Melayu’ lot fight among themselves to the death. If possible, contribute to prolonging the fight until GE14. Mahathir has already wounded Umno. Let him fester the wound.

In the meantime, the opposition should use the respite to strengthen itself, stop infighting and forge unity. Its first test is likely to be the coming Sarawak elections.

By associating with 'The Joker' Mahathir in the Citizens’ Declaration, Lim has indirectly undermined DAP in Sarawak, since the state DAP has linked Adenan to Najib's odium as part of its electoral strategy.

If Najib and former CM Abdul Taib Mahmud's proxy Adenan Satem wins convincingly, that is, he gets more seats than before, the victory will legitimise Najib's and Taib's kleptocracy and strengthen Umno-BN for GE14.

Just a Malaysian: Lim stands tall with our founding father like Tunku Abdul Rahman, Hussein Onn, Ismail Abdul Rahman, etc. There is no one alive today in Umno that can hold a candle to him.

His only curse is that he is a Chinese born in Malaysia. History will judge Lim favourably when all the bigots are finally able to get over their own inferiority complex and see Lim for who he is.

Anonymous 2341761439455664: Lim, well done. There will always be armchair detractors complaining and complaining... That's the nature of some people.

Take heart, there are also many more people who can understand your many sacrifices. As long as your conscience is clear, just forge ahead, we are with you.

Anonymous #12566075: Yes, Lim, I am of the same age as you and have lived through all these years after Malaysia was born. You perhaps are one of the few who are not attracted by money or power to give up your principles.

If you wanted power and money, you could have joined BN instead of spending years in prison. Good on you.

Fair Play: We, the self-acclaimed armchair critics talked about ethics and principles. Here is this man, Lim Kit Siang, who had been jailed and vilified because he stood by his principles.

Let's face it, we couldn't hold a candle to him, notwithstanding his warts and all.

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