I fully agree with Bersatu strategist, Rais Hussein’s warning against friendly fire among Harapan politicians, as it could lead to negative perceptions and awful consequences for Pakatan Harapan.

While no one wants any restriction on freedom of speech and expression, which has always been one of our fundamental pre-conditions for Malaysia to become a democratic society, it is also important to ensure that the cohesion, unity as well as common sense of purpose of Pakatan Harapan are not undermined or even destroyed by unbridled speech and expression.

For this reason, I call on all Pakaan Harapan leaders who have raised general concerns about the cohesion, unity and common sense of purpose of Pakatan Harapan because of their criticism or even attacks on leaders from other Pakatan Harapan leaders to cease and persist and agree to a “SOP” (standard operating procedure) for expression of criticism or even attacks on leaders of other Pakatan Harapan leaders.

I call on all Pakatan Harapan leaders to stop making any overt attacks on leaders of other Pakatan Harapan parties without first discussing and getting green light from their own parties.

If such a SOP does not work out satisfactorily, the Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council should step in to work out a more satisfactory mechanism for Pakatan Harapan leaders to express their concerns and dissatisfaction whether of speech or performance of leaders from other Pakaran Harapan leaders, so that the objective of Pakatan Harapan to build a New Malaysia is not in any way compromised.

(Speech by DAP MP for Iskandar Puteri Lim Kit Siang at a Dongzhi Festival reception of the DAP delegation visiting China in Hong Kong on Saturday, 22nd December 2018)