The five conditions are:
1. Free former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and restore all his rights to take part in consultations on institutional reforms;
2. Set up an independent Royal Commission of Inquiry into 1Malaysia Development Bhd and a RM2.6 billion donation into Najib’s private bank accounts;
3. Najib to take leave from his position as prime minister until the outcome of the inquiry;
4. Withdraw proposed amendments to laws affecting press freedom and free speech, withdraw the National Security Council Bill, withdraw all charges and stop all investigations into opposition and civil society leaders;
5. Suspend the Goods and Services Tax, cut RM50 billion in government expenditure; halve the size of the Cabinet; give priority to education, health and housing.
Lim is the DAP’s parliamentary leader and MP for Gelang Patah but has been suspended from the Dewan Rakyat for six months for questioning the Speaker’s authority. He has been touring DAP branches in all parliamentary constituencies.
In a speech at the Padang Besar branch, he referred to previous statements that he was willing to work with anyone, even with Najib Razak, if the Prime Minister was prepared to admit Malaysia needed democratic and institutional reforms.
This appeared to be a contradiction to his being part of an initiative by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad last week, when Lim was among 58 politicians and civil society leaders who signed the so-called Citizens’ Declaration, whose main aim is the ouster of Najib as prime minister.
The declaration has become the basis of a Save Malaysia campaign to be launched at a public gathering on March 27.
Dr Mahathir has emphatically stated that Anwar’s release was not included in the declaration. However, Anwar’s PKR party has insisted that one of the objectives of the Save Malaysia campaign must be to secure his freedom. Anwar is serving a five-year jail term on a sodomy charge.
Lim said Anwar should be allowed to take part fully in a consultative process on reforms.
SEE ALSO:
Raja Petra: How will Anwar be freed?
Muhyiddin: How Umno crippled me as deputy
Chegubard, Haris reject Dr M as a figure of change