The Malaysian Insight

PRIME Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob must be given a chance to prove himself as his “Keluarga Malaysia” approach is a change from the single dominant race narrative the country has been fed with for decades, DAP senior adviser Lim Kit Siang said.

“Although, he has accused DAP of being anti-Malay and employed the rhetoric of hatred in some of his past speeches, I do not hold it against him.

“I believe that every political leader should be given the opportunity to change,” the veteran politician told The Malaysian Insight.

He said Ismail’s “Keluarga Malaysia”, although just a slogan, is very different from the mono-ethnic approach Barisan Nasional had employed for six decades when it ruled the country.

“And we must give him the opportunity to deliver as it is a more wholesome, Malaysian-minded approach.

“Otherwise, if we take a racial and mono-ethnic position it will be a contradiction of Keluarga Malaysia. I’m happy with this message that we are moving in that direction.

“Let him prove himself although it will not be an easy task. That is a challenge for him and Malaysia,” said the 80-year-old.

Lim was commenting on the latest political developments for the first time since the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) government last year.

The Iskandar Puteri MP was also speaking in conjunction with the launch of a new biography by veteran actor, author and journalist Kee Thuan Chye. The new biography entitled Lim Kit Siang – Malaysian First (Vol 1: None but the bold) will be available in bookstores from October 25 while the official launch will be on November 9.

The biography, which traces Lim’s life, is one of the first attempts at documenting his more than five decades in politics – from student activism to being one of the most active and longest-serving MPs in Parliament.

When reminded how Najib Razak had also tried a similar attempt to be inclusive with his “1Malaysia” slogan and brand when he became prime minister in 2009, Lim said Malaysia needs to look at the reasons why it had fallen behind other countries in the region.

“It’s time for a review on why we are behind despite six decades of nation-building instead of going forward. And this includes looking at the sensitive issues.

“What is important is not an individual, race or religion but the nation as a whole. If the nation suffers, everyone suffers.

“Covid-19 is a great example of this where everyone regardless of race, religion or economic status are all impacted. The pandemic does not make any distinctions on whether you are a Malay, Chinese or Indian, or whether you are a Christian or a Muslim, or a Sabahan or a Sarawakian,” said Lim.

He also spoke of how the current political climate with Ismail leading the government marks a new era, where no party can be dominant and rivals are forced to work together.

When asked if Ismail was the reason why PH agreed to sign the memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the government, Lim said, “No”.

Ismail’s predecessor Muhyiddin Yassin had also offered a similar MOU (or confidence-and-supply agreement), but Lim said PH could not accept it as the offer was made in Muhyiddin’s last days as prime minister.

“There was not enough time to sell the idea (to supporters and leaders). The offer was made in his last days before he had to establish his majority.”

To Lim, PH did not reject Muhyiddin’s offer because of bad blood over the “Sheraton Move” last year when the Bersatu leader pulled the party out of PH and also led about a dozen PKR MPs to defect, causing the collapse of the PH government.

“If you think about it, Ismail was also part of the Sheraton Move, so it makes no difference.

“With Muhyiddin, there was just not enough time,” said Lim.

After the 2018 general election, PH and Warisan Sabah formed a new government with 121 MPs in the 222-member Dewan Rakyat.

After defections from other parties, the PH government grew to have 136 MPs but was still toppled when Bersatu pulled out and about a dozen lawmakers from PKR defected in February last year.

However, the new Perikatan Nasional government under Muhyiddin only had 114 MPs. Following a year of much turmoil with ally Umno, he resigned in August 2021 after 14 Umno MPs withdrew their support from him.

Newly appointed prime minister Ismail, who also has the support of 114 MPs, decided to sign the MOU with PH to stabilise his government in exchange for carrying out various parliamentary and legal reforms. – October 22, 2021.