Opposition veteran Lim Kit Siang found himself in the rare position today of having to defend Barisan Nasional representatives against the ire of two Umno leaders and cabinet ministers.

First up for sharp criticism was Umno vice-president Muhyiddin Yassin, who had demanded an explanation from former Kota Baru division head Zaid Ibrahim for having attended the PKR congress on Saturday.

lim kit siang and dap Lim, the DAP parliamentarian for Ipoh Timor, expressed surprise over Muhyiddin’s remarks, saying this showed Umno's “intolerance and petty-mindedness”.

“I am very disappointed because Muhyiddin is the minister for international trade and industry, as well as the favourite in the (upcoming) contest for Umno deputy president...,” said Lim.

“(He) should be an example of inclusive thinking and greater openness and tolerance, instead of being very exclusive... in a country we want to market to the world as Instant Asia.”

muhyiddin yasin muhyiddin yassin zaid ibrahim Muhyiddin (left) had told off Zaid (right) , who had resigned as de facto law minister in September over the government’s use of the Internal Security Act against three individuals.

He said Zaid was “lending moral support” to the opposition and was being “disloyal” to Umno.

Weighed in Lim: “This is a major setback for the Bangsa Malaysia concept as it illustrates the sad fact that exclusivity, intolerance and petty-mindedness have displaced inclusive thinking and greater openness and tolerance in the mindset of Umno leaders 51 years after Merdeka.”

Speaking to reporters at the Parliament lobby, Lim said he himself had attended the opening of the new Umno headquarters at Putra World Trade Centre in the 1980s.

parliament gobind singh ban over nazri mistake 251108 01 “Is loyalty to Umno so brittle and fragile that it must be invoked against any member for attending an opposition function? Was my loyalty to DAP ever in doubt for attending an Umno function?

“Fortunately this question of ‘loyalty to Umno’ was not raised when Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Abdul Aziz (left) accepted my invitation to a DAP seminar... in May 2004.

“Why didn't 'loyalty to Umno' become an issue then? It has become a big issue four years later over Zaid attending an opposition function.”

Meek submission required?

Lim also asked if this was an indication that Umno has lost its confidence as a dominant party in the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.

arif shah omar shah “If Muhyiddin is so swift in issuing an ultimatum to Zaid... will he be equally swift against Umno Seberang Jaya assembly(person) Arif Shah Omar Shah (left) who was the BN standard-bearer in the Permatang Pauh by-election?”

He said this in relation to Arif Shah’s statement yesterday in the New Sunday Times that he was at the “crossroads between staying in Umno or joining Pakatan Rakyat state government” because of “blatant” abuse of power by Umno Permatang Pauh.

hishammuddin post cabinet pc 210308 4 Lim also took on outgoing Umno Youth head and Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein (right) for reprimanding MCA deputy president Dr Chua Soi Lek and MCA Wanita head Chew Mei Fun.

This was over their comments on the relevance of ‘Malay supremacy’ and the claim of a BN transformation next March.

“What is this BN transformation in March that the new MCA top national leadership and the other BN component parties are completely ignorant about?” asked Lim.

“Is it going to be a 'BN transformation in March' that is to be solely and exclusively orchestrated by Umno, with leaders of component parties with the prerogative only to raise their hand to express compliance?”