Guan Eng tries valiantly but futilely to defend his too-clever-by-half macai Tony Pua but Guan Eng himself does not agree with Pua

Can't fault those attracted by reform offers but can't trust Muhyiddin - Guan Eng
(extracts only)

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said those who are attracted by Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's offer of concessions cannot be faulted for wanting institutional reforms.

At the same time, Lim (above) said Muhyiddin's track record also raises doubt on whether he will follow through with his promises.

"For those initially attracted by the promised reforms, they cannot be faulted for relying on the common refrain of 'the end justifies the means', regardless of who initiates them.

"They are not wrong in their idealistic pursuit of institutional reforms. However, we are dealing with a prime minister who has a history of doing the opposite where 'the end justifies the means', in this case, it's to remain as prime minister at all cost," he said in a statement.

Some DAP lawmakers including Damansara MP Tony Pua and Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming have urged the opposition to consider Muhyiddin's offer but the leadership had decided to reject them.

Muhyiddin, in an attempt to rebuild his collapsed majority, had among others, offered to implement long-time reforms advocated by the opposition including a term limit for the prime minister, anti-hopping laws and a more inclusive composition of parliamentary select committees.

However, Lim said institutional reform is not political expediency and can only be done with a genuine commitment and sacrifice.

"Based on the prime minister’s record of political treachery and the composition of his conservative cabinet that is consistently opposed to reforms of any kind, there is genuine scepticism whether he will deliver his promised reforms when it is clearly a gambit for power or stratagem for survival," he said.

Lim added that while many expect Muhyiddin to resign, DAP is not supportive of a general election during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"DAP is clear on our choice of who should be the next prime minister in accordance with Pakatan Harapan mandate.

"No one person is entitled to be prime minister but qualification must be based on potential capability and capacity to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic, economic recession and commitment to institutional reforms to normalise Malaysia as an emerging developed nation," he said.

Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim

DAP wants opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim as Harapan's prime ministerial candidate but it is still unclear if he can muster the necessary numbers in the Dewan Rakyat.