Likening their comments to Umno being under a “hysteria attack”, Lim said it was obvious that the new PH structure, logo and leadership line-up has had such an impact on the ruling Umno/Barisan Nasional government.
Over the past few days Prime Minister Najib Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak, Ismail Sabri Yaakob (Rural and Regional Development), Anifah Aman (Foreign Affairs), Mohamed Nazri Aziz (Tourism and Culture) and Khairy Jamaluddin (Youth and Sports) have either released statements or responded to questions on the PH line-up.
“They just did not believe that it was possible for Pakatan Harapan leaders to resolve their differences, and that a reconciliation between Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim was at all possible,” Lim said.
On Friday, Salleh was first off the mark, questioning why none of the highest posts in PH went to a DAP leader despite the party having the most number of MPs in the coalition.
Lim, who is Gelang Patah MP, then said Ismail Sabri Yaakob suggested a non-Malay from DAP could be the next prime minister because the Malays will be split three ways – BN, PAS and PH – leaving DAP with the most seats, and the constitutional right to decide who will be prime minister.
“Yesterday, Foreign Minister Anifah Aman warned Barisan Nasional supporters to expect revenge if the opposition forms the next government.
“Khairy Jamaluddin also invented a new propaganda line, claiming that DAP, as ‘the party which holds the most parliamentary seats in the Dewan Rakyat will decide on Pakatan Harapan’s policies and manifestos’,” Lim said.
“Let me assure them that the DAP is not sidelined in Pakatan Harapan, that no single political party can decide and dictate the Pakatan Harapan’s polices and manifestos, and that there will be no revenge binge by Pakatan Harapan when it forms the Federal Government in Putrajaya.”
The DAP parliamentary leader also found Salleh’s latest statement on PH being “doomed without PAS” as “most revealing of all”.
“Salleh is actually trying to assure the Umno/BN grassroots members that they should not abandon a sinking ship but continue to hope that Umno/BN could still be re-elected as the federal government in the next general election (GE14).
“No wonder Najib and UMNO have been working so hard to woo PAS.”
Lim said, with the new PH logo, structure and leadership council being announced and the move to register the opposition coalition, it is less likely that Najib will call for GE14 anytime this year.
Kit Siang: BN forgot script that I’m ‘dictator of dictators’
Salleh worried PH line-up dispels DAP domination claim, says PPBM