Alyaa Azhar| May 10, 2013
Free Malaysia Today

DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang says his statement with regard to a possible DAP-BN coalition was misconstrued by the Chinese press.

KUALA LUMPUR: DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang today said that newspaper headlines in Chinese press were to blame for a misconception that he wanted to form a coalition government with the Barisan Nasional.

“I was told that I have been the target of attacks in the social media for betraying the people. I have done nothing to justify that. The fault actually lies with the Chinese newspapers headlines, mixing two separate issues – first if DAP will join BN to replace MCA, and secondly the separate proposal of a BN-PR coalition government,” Lim told a press conference today.

Lim said that Sin Chew’s frontpaged headline gives readers, who only read the first headline, the impression that he supports the idea of DAP joining BN to replace MCA.

The main headline reads: ‘Lim Kit Siang: Can have coalition government with BN’ while the sub-heading reads: ‘Condition: Accept PR’s election manifesto’.

He said that Sin Chew and it sub-editors should be careful in ensuring that their primary headlines do not create misconceptions.

“They cannot assume that readers will read the full contents or even the sub-headings. You know how it is nowadays, most people only read the primary headline and not the full report,” he said.

He added that to avoid misunderstanding, both the main headline and sub-headings should not vary drastically.

DAP never intended to replace MCA in BN

On the two issues, he reiterated that he totally rejects the idea of DAP joining BN to replace MCA.

“DAP never intended to replace MCA in BN as our objectives have always been to fight for the rights of all Malaysians and never just for the Chinese,” said Lim.

As for the suggestion of Pakatan Rakyat forming a coalition government with BN: “It is only when BN is prepared to endorse the PR Common Policy Framework and the PR manifesto that there is basis for consideration of such a proposition of a BN-PR coalition government,” he said.

The DAP advisor also discussed several proposals for reforms to be made in Parliament.

He urged for Parliamentary Opposition Leaders to be given ministerial status to promote and advance parliamentary democracy in Malaysia.

“The allowance of the Parliamentary Opposition Leader should be comparable to that of a Cabinet Minister, together with all the perks and privileges, including being provided with an official car.

“The elevation of the position and status of the Parliamentary Opposition Leader in keeping with those of a normal democratic country is all the more pertinent as Malaysia has reached the stage where the Prime Minister of-the-day could well be the Parliamentary Opposition Leader tomorrow,” he said.

‘Live’ telecast of Parliament sessions

Lim also urged for an immediate end to the politics of discrimination against Opposition MPs who are denied the annual RM500,000, later raised to RM1 million, development funds allocated to BN MPs for their constituencies.

“Instead of such allocation annually for BN MPs, every MP should be allocated RM500,000 a year which must be used solely for the hiring of research assistants, constituency officers and operation of constituency offices.

“MPs who misuse these allocations should be removed from Parliament. Also, ministers should be required to attend Parliament to personally answer questions and to reply to speeches, unless they have to be out of the country,” said Lim, commenting on how the ministerial benches were often empty.

Lim further stated that it is important to carry ‘live’ telecasts of parliamentary proceedings.

“This would throw a spotlight on MPs and allow voters the opportunity to see for themselves if their MPs are playing truant or conscientiously discharging their duties to speak up in Parliament,” he said.

Lim also proposed the appointment of an Opposition MP to head the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

“In the House of Commons in the United Kingdom it has been the tradition to choose the Chairman of the PAC from the Opposition since the creation of this committee in 1861.

“However, in the Malaysian Parliament, we have the opposite, choosing a government MP to head the PAC.

“This is the primary reason why the PAC in Malaysia had never been able to make the impact made by other PACs in the UK or other Parliaments,” said Lim, adding that the PAC plays an important role as a check-and-balance on government financial abuses, excesses and malpractices.

Meanwhile, Sabah DAP chairman Jimmy Wong said that the recently concluded election showed that “ “there is a strong shift of non-Muslim Bumiputera community towards Pakatan Rakyat.”

DAP in Sabah won two parliamentary seats and four state seats as opposed to only one parliamentary and one state seat in the 2008 general election.

“Assuming there was a one-on-one fight between PR and BN, PR could have won another eight state seats and four parliamentary seats,” said Wong.

Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua who was also present said that a thanksgiving rally named “Himpunan Kesyukuran” will be held tomorrow at 7pm at Padang Timur, in front of the Amcorp Mall.

“People wishing to attend are advised to use the LRT (nearest station: Taman Jaya) to avoid traffic congestion,” said Pua.

Speakers will include DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang, Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar, Shah Alam MP Khalid Abdul Samad, Tamrin Abdul Ghafar and Zaid Ibrahim.

(note: The Himpunan Kesyukuran has been postponed to May 23, 2013).