DAP VETERAN Lim Kit Siang has called on Malaysians to give Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim until the next general election before judging whether he has delivered on his election promises.
The elder politician said the prime minister was subject to “different imperatives” while battling to remain in power.
He said many people, in particular Bersatu and PAS leaders Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, respectively, had not expected Anwar to last a year as prime minister.
He admitted there is mounting criticism that Anwar, who is Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman, has not fulfilled his election promises.
“I urge Malaysians to give Anwar three to four years until the 16th general election before judging whether Anwar has met or failed to deliver his election promises,” he said on the first anniversary of Anwar's time in office.
“When you have to fight for your political life, different imperatives prevail.
“But when there is political stability and Anwar does not have to constantly look over the shoulders to ensure that he is not toppled, expectations that he would fulfil his election promises are high.”
Lim said this at the launch of his biography by Kee Thuan Chye titled "Lim Kit Siang – Malaysian First Volume 2" at the Ipoh Swimming Club last night. The text of his speech was made available to the press this morning.
The discussion at the event was moderated by former attorney-general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas.
Lim quipped that he must have been the first to inform Thomas in 2018 that he was going to be attorney-general after he was informed about it by then prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
2018 election pledges ‘coming to nothing’
Lim said that he had impressed upon Mahathir, after PH assumed power in 2018, the importance of meeting the coalition’s general election pledges, but the promises ended up “coming to nothing”.
Lim said Mahathir, who was then PH chairman, also did not fulfil his promise to hand over the premiership to Anwar as PH was toppled by defections in early 2020.
“I saw Mahathir three times and in 2019 I told Mahathir that the Pakatan Harapan government must be serious with its election pledges and I was surprised by his statement that the election manifest is not a Bible,” he said.
“He agreed to form a committee to review the implementation of the election pledges, which came to nothing when the Sheraton Move political conspiracy happened and toppled the 22-month-old Pakatan Harapan government.”
He said he was prepared to bet with an Umno leader that Mahathir, whatever he personally thought of Anwar, would keep his word to pass the reins to him.
“He (Mahathir) announced at the Pakatan Harapan presidential council meeting on February 21, 2020, that he would hand over the premiership to Anwar at the end of the year after the Apec meeting, (but the promise) was forestalled by the Sheraton Move political conspiracy a few days later,” Lim said.
He said Mahathir himself had confirmed his position on this matter in a podcast with Khairy Jamaluddin earlier this month. – The Vibes, November 24, 2023
