GEORGE TOWN – DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng plans to sue incumbent Pasir Salak MP Datuk Seri Tajuddin Abdul Rahman for implying that he had transformed the Finance Ministry office into a “tokong” (Chinese temple) by allowing oriental lanterns to hang in the premises.
Lim, who was formerly the finance minister, said that his lawyers would be dispatching a notice of demand to Tajuddin at the latter’s office in Kuala Lumpur soon.
“It would not be immediately as we are now preparing for the (general) elections, but soon enough we will act against Tajuddin for spreading lies and racist remarks.
“This needs to stop. We should not tolerate such slander and racialism.
“I am forced to take legal action because this is clearly defamation,” Lim told a press conference.
Tajuddin apparently made the remarks during an appearance on a Sinar Harian podcast recently.
The suspended Umno member was also seen as dismissive towards the male host by questioning how Malay he was when the latter had intervened and urged Tajuddin to focus on the subject of competency among leaders.
Lim stressed that the only time lanterns were installed at the ministry was to mark the Lunar New Year in Putrajaya.
He also pointed out that Tajuddin’s remarks gives credence to claims that certain parties are keen on making the general election campaign about race and religion – when it should be about the economy.
“I am disappointed that the campaign centres around race and religion, and does not touch at all on the economy for the past three weeks.”
In the meantime, Lim pointed out that the ringgit has slumped to an all-time low against both the US dollar and the Singapore dollar.
The consequences, according to Lim, are that Malaysia would end up paying US$8.8 billion (RM41.47 billion) for the US-dollar-denominated bonds the country undertook for 1Malaysia Development Bhd financing compared to the US$6.5 billion issue price
“As most international trade is transacted in US dollars, this makes it more difficult to import items.
“We are losing millions with the decline of the ringgit and yet this caretaker government chooses not to address it at all.
“What sort of government permits this?” he asked.
Lim also urged young voters who now comprise about 51.4% of the electorate to reject parties who continue to harp on race and religion to win over votes.
“The world is changing, and some politicians continue to be stuck in the old ways of depending on race and religion to deliver the votes, when the focus should be on the economy,” he said. – The Vibes, October 27, 2022
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