GEORGE TOWN – DAP will not work with Umno in the 15th general election, but is not above cooperating for the people’s benefit, said secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.
In his speech at the Penang DAP convention today, he said: “Let me state that DAP will not work with kleptocratic leaders in the coming general election.
“DAP reiterates that there is no political cooperation with Umno, and the central executive committee has not changed its previous policy position.
“Let me be clear.”
He gave as examples cooperation with Umno in Perak, which is led by the Barisan Nasional lynchpin, and Johor.
He added that allocations were given to opposition-held constituencies while talks were held with Umno to address issues affecting the people.
Lim said DAP is willing to cooperate with Umno and others in pushing for Parliament to reconvene.
“We are now in very odd times, where, amid the pandemic, almost everything is allowed to operate, but Parliament cannot convene.
“Today is the first time we have had an ordinary convention in a stadium, where there are 2,000 people in attendance, following strict SOPs, but Parliament, with more than 200 people, cannot assemble.
“This is a show of betrayal to the Malaysian constitution, as laws are passed without being presented in Parliament.”
He said DAP is willing to work with Umno to force the Perikatan Nasional government to allow Parliament to sit and review harsh laws, such as the imposition of a RM10,000 fine on individuals and RM50,000 on companies over their failure to heed Covid-19 SOPs.
“I believe that if there was a parliamentary proceeding, these laws would not be approved, not just by the opposition, but also those in the government.
“This has to be reviewed because we all know that the federal government has double standards, where leaders are not fined, but the public is, for breaking the SOPs.”
He said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is being hypocritical by calling for Myanmar’s military leadership to have its Parliament convene, but not doing the same in Malaysia.
“We must restore Parliament to protect the rights of the rakyat.
“Let those who have betrayed the rakyat be judged by history.” – The Vibes, March 21, 2021
Additional reporting by Ian McIntyre
