After Zahid's 'kick us out' dare, Guan Eng tells Penang govt to shut the door

DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng has urged the Pakatan Harapan-led Penang government to “close the door” on Umno after party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi openly challenged the federal government to kick his party out of Putrajaya.

He also questioned whether Zahid lacked the “guts” to issue a similar dare to the Penang state government, where Umno representatives sit on the state executive council, the two city councils, and state-linked companies.

“Does Zahid not have the courage to do so because he knows that even without Umno’s two elected Penang state representatives, the Harapan government would still enjoy its two-thirds majority in the state assembly?” he asked in a statement.

The former Penang chief minister said Umno should not be allowed to take advantage of the “hesitancy and indecision” within the state Harapan leadership over the party’s “duplicitous role” in government, as it works with the opposition Perikatan Nasional while remaining part of the state coalition government.

“Harapan supporters are clear-eyed that Umno and PAS will continue to practice extremist politics and divisive rhetoric against Harapan to win power at all costs,” he added.

Defer all fee increases

In a series of pointed remarks, Lim urged the Penang government to counter “the opportunistic, unprincipled, and hypocritical” Umno and BN leadership with people-centric policies.

“For this reason, the Penang state government should close the door on Umno, PAS, MCA, and Gerakan by deferring all increases in charges and fees, quit rent, water tariffs, and parking rates.

“The deferral of the state government’s hike in charges and fees, quit rent, water tariffs, and parking rates would remove any outstanding grievances and restore public confidence as well as close down any opportunistic attempt by both BN and PN to profit from these outstanding issues,” he added.

'Kick Umno out, if you dare'

In his winding-up speech at the Umno general assembly, Zahid challenged the Harapan-led coalition government to boot Umno out of Putrajaya and call for snap polls.

The deputy prime minister also slammed Harapan supporters who had urged Umno to leave the government, reminding them that the coalition would not be in Putrajaya without BN’s support.

He said the other parties in the coalition government only joined after BN helped Harapan secure the required majority in 2022.

If BN were to be ousted, Zahid said, Harapan would lose its initial foundation and should therefore return the mandate to the rakyat.

'Imagine if it was an imam': Akmal slams Catholic joke, tells Umno delegate to apologise

PAS demands Putrajaya explain Pardons Board's deferment of Najib's application

Akmal: No political barriers, all welcome to 'one-million-strong' Umno-PAS ummah gathering

We know how to land on our feet, purrs Wawasan after Umno’s feline jab

SNAPSHOT | What is Zahid asking M'sians to vote for in snap polls, activist asks

COMMENT | Do non-Muslims participate in the cabinet?