MP SPEAKS | Malaysiakini today focussed on Liew Chin Tong’s book which revealed that in 2019, then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad wanted to sack Yeo Bee Yin as energy, science, technology, environment and climate change minister over the Lynas issue although eventually, this did not take place.

I was never involved in this but I learnt about it. This incident indicates the complexities of the Pakatan Harapan government under Mahathir.

I have said that Harapan has to learn the lessons of their 22-month governance and its toppling by the Sheraton Move conspiracy which ushered in a backdoor, undemocratic, illegitimate and kakistocracy government.

One of these lessons is to be serious about our election pledges. We have a 'Buku Harapan' which contained Harapan’s election promises in the 14th general election.

Early on in the Harapan government, it was the prime minister, Mahathir, who said the manifesto was not a bible. As a result, even if 80 or 90 percent of the election pledges had been implemented in the five-year mandate, the damage had been done.

It was worse when the five-year mandate of the Harapan government was cut short after 22 months by the Sheraton Move conspiracy.

The Harapan Government was not a DAP government but comprised four political parties – DAP, PKR, Amanah and Bersatu.

As Chin Tong recounted in his book, I met Mahathir as prime minister twice in his office where I discussed the importance of restoring public confidence and having a coherent explanation about Harapan’s manifesto and policies.

After our second meeting, Harapan formed a manifesto review committee with Chin Tong as chairperson to address the public perception about undelivered election promises.

But the Harapan government was toppled by the Sheraton Move conspiracy before its manifesto review committee could finalise its report.

This is why I cannot understand those who refuse to listen to explanations of why a particular election pledge had not been fulfilled, for instance, the Unified Examination Certificate (UEC) recognition issue.

Must be realistic

The 'Buku Harapan' promise on the UEC in the 14th general election said:

“Pakatan Harapan will undertake to recognise UEC certificates to enter public institutions of higher learning (IPTA) provided that applicants have a credit in Bahasa Malaysia at the SPM level. For this purpose, the UEC certificate will be assessed to be equivalent to the existing general qualification for entry into IPTA.”

Former Harapan PM, Dr Mahathir Mohamad at the DAP retreat

At the DAP retreat in 2019, Mahathir said the Harapan government was committed to the pledge to recognise the UEC certificate to enter public institutions of learning after an assessment. Anwar Ibrahim also made a similar commitment.

But the toppling of the Harapan government after 22 months by the Sheraton Move conspiracy made it impossible to fulfil the election manifesto which was to be fulfilled within the five-year term.

But there were critics who refuse to listen to explanations, shutting their eyes and closing their ears. There are advocates who want DAP to return to the past and be an opposition.

I have been in the federal opposition for 52 years and I have no fears about being in the opposition again. But we must aim to return to form a government for it is when in power that things can get done.

One, however, must be realistic in that we must work with like-minded political leaders from other political parties who believe in the 'Malaysian Dream' for Malaysia to be a world-class great nation as the DAP cannot on its own form a federal government in Malaysia.

However, DAP leaders must not be corrupted by power, whether in government or in the opposition, and throughout the 55 years of DAP history, the DAP leadership has not compromised on this important principle.

Liew's new book reveals Dr M wanted to sack Yeo Bee Yin

LIM KIT SIANG is DAP MP for Iskandar Puteri.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.