The statement issued by Datuk Seri Najib Razak addressed to the Minister for Human Resources, M. Kulasegaran not to blame him if Pakatan Harapan can’t decide on the Parliament Speaker is the best tell-tale sign that the former Prime Minister is up to no good at the opening of Parliament.

I thank those who had mistakenly congratulated me as the new Speaker of Parliament – as I will be a backbencher and not Speaker.

But there is no problem with the Pakatan Harapan deciding on the Parliament Speaker, as the primary challenge of the 14th Parliament is to take the steps to become a world-class Parliament, recognised by Parliaments in the world for its parliamentary reform and innovation, and not an infamous Parliament of a global kleptocracy.

I have no doubt that with the new Speaker of Parliament, Datuk Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof the 14th Parliament can fulfill its promise and potential to be a world-class Parliament for reform and innovation.

Under Ariff, Malaysians will have a Parliament they can feel proud – a Parliament which understands the Malaysian Dream of all Malaysians and not one which is like the traditional three monkeys with eyes that see not, ears that hear not and mouth that speaks not.

Najib probably thought that the opening of Parliament is the first and best time after the ignominious UMNO/BN defeat in the 14GE for him to demonstrate that although he had been ousted as the Prime Minister of Malaysia, he is still the primary political force to be reckoned with by the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition.

Although he had resigned as UMNO President after the disastrous UMNO/BN electoral debacle in the 14GE, he had asserted his political control and dominance as evident from the following events:

1. The outcome of the UMNO party elections in June, with Najib’s loyalists sweeping the polls.

2. Claim by UMNO for the approximately RM116.7 million in funds recently seized from Najib-linked premises by the Malaysian police, which the party claims belong to it.

3. No sign of contrition or regret for the monstrous 1MDB scandal resulting in Malaysia becoming a global kleptocracy.

4. No sign of contrition or regret for unleashing the most toxic, vicious and divisive politics of race, religion, fear, hate and lies in Malaysian history, as for instance, inciting baseless fear that Malays and Islam will perish if UMNO loses; that I will be Prime Minister if Pakatan Harapan wins; that Mahathir, Anwar, Azizah and Mat Sabu were all my stooges and puppets; that non-Malays will dominate Pakatan Harapan Government; that the Malay Regiment, MARA and FELDA and other institutions would abolished.

5. Reviving such toxic, divisive and irresponsible politics of race, religion , fear, hate and lies after the 14GE to distract national attention from Najib’s 1MDB scandal and kleptocarcy, such as the baseless allegations that the Pakatan Harapan Government in Putrajaya is carrying out DAP’s Christianisation agenda when there is no such “DAP Christianisation agenda” in the first place.

6. The planne, baseless, provocative and seditious demonstration tomorrow by Najib’s acolytes with hands bound and mouths taped shut to protest alleged loss of the rights by the Yang di Pertuan Agong to defend Islam and protect the Malays.

7. The appointment of the former Attorney-General, Tan Sri Mohd Apandi as a UMNO Supreme Council member, and his initial acceptance likening it to “a fish returning to its spawning grounds” and subsequent U-turn and decline on the ground of possible negative perceptions that would be linked to his time as Attorney-General and a judge.

What is actually the most significant in these two months after the historic and watershed 14GE on MAY 9, 2018 is that neither Najib nor the UMNO leadership is prepared to show contrition or remorse for the two toxic Najib legacies, firstly, turning Malaysia into a global kleptocracy as a result or the monstrous 1MDB money-laundering scandal and secondly, unleashing the most toxic, vicious and divisive politics of race, religion, hate, fear and lies in Malaysian history and now trying to revive such toxic and divisive politics.

Is there any UMNO MPs who is prepared to break ranks in the 14th Parliament and apologise for these two toxic Najib legacies? Will the MCA Deputy President, Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong do it? Will the new MIC President direct the two MIC MPs to do it?

Malaysians will know soon enough.

(Media Statement byn DAP MP for Iskandar Puteri Lim Kit Siang in Gelang Patah on Sunday, 15th July 2018)