Kit Siang rues widespread misunderstanding of MOU
There is widespread misunderstanding of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the federal government and Pakatan Harapan by those who think that DAP and Harapan now support the 'racialist, one-sided and divisive' Budget 2022, said Lim Kit Siang.
The veteran DAP leader said in a statement today that this was definitely not the case.
"DAP and Harapan leaders and MPs will continue to oppose...
There is widespread misunderstanding of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the federal government and Pakatan Harapan by those who think that DAP and Harapan now support the 'racialist, one-sided and divisive' Budget 2022, said Lim Kit Siang.
The veteran DAP leader said in a statement today that this was definitely not the case.
"DAP and Harapan leaders and MPs will continue to oppose the racism, injustices and discrimination of Budget 2022, which does not reflect the Keluarga Malaysia concept advocated by (Prime Minister) Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
"I do not know how many Malacca voters had been misled and misguided by this misconception that there is now no difference between the government and the opposition, and that a vote for DAP and Harapan was as good as a vote for the government parties.
"It is the challenge of all members and supporters to disabuse the people of this misconception," Lim added.
Putrajaya, under the MOU, had promised not to dissolve Parliament until at least July 21, 2022, in order to have enough time to implement various reforms sought by Harapan in exchange for the opposition not to obstruct key government agendas.
However, Umno Youth leader Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki said there is no certainty that the MOU will last until next July as he claimed Harapan did not appear serious in upholding its end of the bargain when it encouraged defectors to bring down the Umno-Bersatu Malacca government.
"Obviously, the Umno leadership is pressing for the tearing up of the MOU and for an early 15th general election (GE15) to be held, believing its 'landslide' victory and the momentum of the Malacca election could lead to the restoration of Umno as the largest political party in Parliament with the requisite majority to form the next government and top Umno leaders being freed from corruption charges.
"But will Ismail Sabri agree?" Lim asked.
The Iskandar Puteri MP added that the MOU has achieved some political stability so that Ismail Sabri will not be toppled as the premier in the way Muhyiddin Yassin was ousted as the eighth prime minister.
Noting that Harapan could not command majority support, he said the MOU is to ensure a modicum of political stability whereby the opposition coalition will not vote out the budget which meant a vote of no confidence in Ismail Sabri as that would send the country on a new spree for a PM replacement from the PN-BN framework.
"This was in exchange for the Ismail Sabri promise to focus on bringing the Covid-19 pandemic under control to save lives and livelihoods.
"There is no guarantee that he will be chosen as PM if Umno wins a majority in GE15.
"Ismail Sabri is no reformer, but the only way he could avoid ending up as the prime minister with the shortest tenure in Malaysia is to uphold the MOU and drag out GE15 until 2023," Lim added.
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