Commenting on Tan’s recent statement that the proposed snap election in Penang was a fiasco, Sim said that the “objective of a snap election is clear: return power to the people”.
“If Tan has now decided to do something for the people of Penang, I advise him to open his sealed lips against Prime Minister Najib Razak on 1MDB instead,” he said.
Sim suggested Tan read up on the US Department of Justice’s civil suits to seize assets “involved in and traceable to an international conspiracy to launder money misappropriated from 1MDB”, as well as on investigations related to the state-owned investment firm by at least six other countries.
“Is Tan brave enough to call for Najib to dissolve Parliament and return power to the people?
“Tan remains silent, perhaps more concerned about his position, given to him by the Prime Minister,” Sim said, referring to Tan’s post as Chairman of the Penang Port Commission.
Sim added that the people are suffering under a corrupt regime which has imposed GST.
“Bank Negara itself has acknowledged that the economy was facing a crisis of confidence due to various unresolved financial scandals.
“Not only foreign investors’ confidence has been affected, the people have lost confidence in the Prime Minister.
“MCA and Tan, as well as other Barisan Nasional (BN) leaders, should have the guts to call on Najib to dissolve Parliament to save Malaysia,” Sim said.
Defending the Chief Minister, Sim said unlike Najib, Lim had submitted to the full scrutiny of the law, the media and the people.
Referring to the Westminster model of government practised by Malaysia, Sim reminded Tan that the head of government has the right to request for dissolution of the legislative assembly at any time.
“BN Prime Ministers and Chief Ministers have done this before, and they did it on their own without consultation.
“Lim Guan Eng chose to consult extensively with allies in Pakatan Harapan (PH), and that is democracy,” Sim said.
Sim claimed that BN Penang leaders may have panicked at the prospect of a snap state election “as they were unprepared”.