He named the states as Selangor, Kedah, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Johor. (Pakatan Harapan runs the state governments of Selangor and Penang, while the former Pakatan Rakyat has also held power in Kedah and Perak.)

Speaking to delegates at the Selangor DAP’s annual conference today, he highlighted the need for a common manifesto, saying: “If we have two party manifestoes, we will be the laughing stock.”

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, who was at the convention, told reporters later that he agreed with Lim’s suggestion of one manifesto. He said Pakatan Harapan was ironing out any challenges and issues faced in the upcoming general election.

Picking up from the theme of his ceramah speeches all year, Lim said the common manifesto should be about “democracy versus kleptocracy.”

Lim has used the phrase “global kleptocracy” against the Najib Razak government in campaign speeches at party events and dinners all year, in a reference to suits by the US government to recover assets valued at about USD1 billion bought with money allegedly embezzled from 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

The US action is part of its Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative.

Lim said the manifesto was “a clear cut platform for the opposition to go on this theme of Democracy versus Kleptocracy”.

He said it was time to break away from a kleptocratic administration. “The one thing Malaysia has achieved globally is the title of global kleptocracy. What is the AG (Attorney-General), IGP (Inspector-General of Police) and MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) doing?” he said.

He questioned the lack of action against Malaysian millionaire Low Taek Jho (better known as Jho Low), who had been named in the US suits.

Delegates at the convention carried placards on #TangkapMO1 and Support, Sympathy and Solidarity for Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who faces trial on two corruption charges relating to the purchase of a RM2.8 million bungalow and a related deal for land conversion.