Kit Siang: DAP must lead public opinion on political ceasefire
DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang says his party needed to lead public opinion on a political ceasefire in the country.
This was amid some scepticism towards the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between Pakatan Harapan and Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's government which will see the opposition coalition refrain from moving against him in exchange for a set of reforms and policy decisions.
"DAP leaders and activists must lead...
DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang says his party needed to lead public opinion on a political ceasefire in the country.
This was amid some scepticism towards the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed between Pakatan Harapan and Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob's government, which will see the opposition coalition refrain from moving against him in exchange for a set of reforms and policy decisions.
"DAP leaders and activists must lead public opinion that the country demands a moratorium and a political ceasefire for the next 10 to 18 months until the 15th general election so that we can focus on winning the war against the Covid-19 pandemic and reset the country for economic, social and national recovery and normality," he said in a statement.
Lim noted that Ismail Sabri could have lost his first vote in Parliament if it were not for the MOU, which would make him the shortest-serving prime minister with less than a month in power.
"But this is not the time for political intrigues, plots and counter-plots but for unity and cooperation by all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, region or politics to end the longest Covid-19 wave in the world, which had caused over two million Covid-19 cases and over 22,000 Covid-19 deaths in Malaysia," he said.
Lim added that even if Ismail Sabri were to be ousted, the next prime minister will still unlikely come from the opposition or be their desired candidate - opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar was only able to garner the support of 105 MPs compared to Ismail Sabri, who received the backing of 114 MPs. Gua Musang MP Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah was the only one to back neither.
At present, there are 220 MPs in the Dewan Rakyat and two vacant seats.
Lim, who described the MOU as the most important document since the drafting of the Malaysian Constitution and Rukun Negara, said it would not have been possible if the Umno-dominated BN was still in a hegemonic position.
This was also coupled with the "existential threat" of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Lim said the opposition still have critical differences with Ismail Sabri's government particularly on constitutional democracy, rule of law, corruption, human rights, equality and unity.
"But our differences can wait and must wait in the face of the existential threat of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Our commonalities as a Malaysian, regardless of race, religion, region or politics, must take a pre-eminent position and our common priority must be to win the war against the Covid-19 pandemic to assure a safe future for all Malaysians.
"This is in fact a supreme test of one’s love for the nation and Malaysian people," he said.
He noted that when the country celebrated Malaysia Day last year, it was ranked 89th in the world in terms of cumulative Covid-19 cases. This year, it is now ranked 21.
Lim expressed concern that the country could be heading to three million Covid-19 cases and 30,000 deaths by end of October.
Malaysia yesterday reported another 422 Covid-19 fatalities, bringing the death toll to 22,009.
As of yesterday, Malaysia recorded cumulative Covid-19 cases of 2,030,935.
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