DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang today called on East Malaysia to take leadership in improving the fate of the Malaysian Federation.

Lim said this was amid a myriad of issues plaguing the country, which he likened to " a frog being slowly boiled alive".

"Hence, I issue an 'SOS' call for the start of a campaign for Sabah and Sarawak to save Malaysia from the clutches of kleptocracy, corruption and (to promote) centralisation of power.

"Sabah and Sarawak must lead the way for the rest of Malaysia to follow and not isolate themselves from the rest of Malaysia," he said in a statement today.

Firstly, Lim said the Federation needs East Malaysia's leadership against efforts to pass laws that may harm the social harmony of various communities.

"This would include making a firm stand against the manner which PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s Private Member’s Bill is being put forth in Parliament," he said.

The PBB-led Sarawak government has already indicated that it will instruct all of its MPs to vote against Hadi's motion.

Lim said Sabah and Sarawak is also needed to make a stand against corruption, which had cost billions of ringgit of infrastructure for both states.

"Thirdly, Sabah and Sarawak must lead the way for the decentralisation of power and autonomy away from the federal government so there can be more accountability and empowerment at the state and local levels.

"In other words, local democracy and accountability needs to be restored and strengthened," he said.