Guan Eng: Rafizi's target is Anwar, perhaps battle him for top post
Although preferring not to meddle in PKR's internal affairs, Lim Guan Eng could not resist firing a minor salvo.
The DAP secretary-general suggested that former Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli, who announced his intention to contest for the PKR number two post, should instead mount a challenge against party president Anwar Ibrahim.
Lim raised this when responding to Rafizi's scathing remarks about Pakatan Harapan, which he claimed was contemplating a pact with Perikatan Nasional (PN) for the next general election.
However, Lim believed that the criticism was aimed at Anwar.
“I even issued a statement before his (Rafizi's) statement came out - saying no PN. Where is the issue?
“I think this one is basically directed at Anwar because he mentions not just Harapan but PKR (as well). So, from there, it is clear that if there are any negotiations, they will talk to Anwar.
“They will not (talk) with us. If necessary, you ask us (Lim and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu) to come in (for the discussion) but basically, Anwar will be the key person to talk to,” Lim told Malaysiakini in an exclusive interview.
Former Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli
“So, his (Rafizi's) target is Anwar. I think that since this is for his campaign purposes for deputy president, I don't want to get involved.
“Perhaps, instead of contesting for deputy president, he should contest for the president’s post straight,” he added.
Reiterating that he did not wish to get caught in the crossfire between Anwar and Rafizi, Lim said he just wanted to set the record straight.
“I think he (Rafizi) got his facts wrong,” he added.
Elaborating, Lim said Harapan leaders have not held discussions with their PN counterparts regarding an electoral pact.
On the same note, the former finance minister made it clear that he was speaking on behalf of DAP leaders and Mohamad, who is popularly known as Mat Sabu.
“As far as top leaders are concerned, no discussion. By that, I mean myself and Mat Sabu - no discussion. Second-level leaders talk to everyone. (At) Parliament, you talk to everyone,” he added.
‘No discussions with PN’
Asked if Anwar is interested in working with PN, which comprises key players behind the infamous Sheraton Move that collapsed the Harapan government, Lim said he would let PKR answer that question.
“So, his (Rafizi's) target is Anwar. I think that since this is for his campaign purposes for deputy president, I don't want to get involved.
“Perhaps, instead of contesting for deputy president, he should contest for the president’s post straight,” he added.
Reiterating that he did not wish to get caught in the crossfire between Anwar and Rafizi, Lim said he just wanted to set the record straight.
“I think he (Rafizi) got his facts wrong,” he added.
Elaborating, Lim said Harapan leaders have not held discussions with their PN counterparts regarding an electoral pact.
On the same note, the former finance minister made it clear that he was speaking on behalf of DAP leaders and Mohamad, who is popularly known as Mat Sabu.
“As far as top leaders are concerned, no discussion. By that, I mean myself and Mat Sabu - no discussion. Second-level leaders talk to everyone. (At) Parliament, you talk to everyone,” he added.
‘No discussions with PN’
Asked if Anwar is interested in working with PN, which comprises key players behind the infamous Sheraton Move that collapsed the Harapan government, Lim said he would let PKR answer that question.
PKR president Anwar Ibrahim
“As far as DAP is concerned, as I said just now, we did not have discussions with PN.
“As far as during or before the Johor election at the top level, Mat Sabu and I never met (PN chairperson) Muhyiddin (Yassin). I don't think Anwar met Muhyiddin.
“But after (the) election, whether they (Anwar and Muhyiddin) met in Parliament and talked, that you have to ask Anwar,” he added.
Commenting on DAP lawmaker Ong Kian Ming's proposal for Harapan to adopt a flexible approach, Lim said the former was looking at it from an academic perspective in terms of dispersion and the spread of votes cast in the Johor election.
“Ong is looking at it from an academic point to see how you can maximise your chances, but this is a political question. You can be flexible, but you cannot compromise your principles,” Lim added.
“As far as DAP is concerned, as I said just now, we did not have discussions with PN.
“As far as during or before the Johor election at the top level, Mat Sabu and I never met (PN chairperson) Muhyiddin (Yassin). I don't think Anwar met Muhyiddin.
“But after (the) election, whether they (Anwar and Muhyiddin) met in Parliament and talked, that you have to ask Anwar,” he added.
Commenting on DAP lawmaker Ong Kian Ming's proposal for Harapan to adopt a flexible approach, Lim said the former was looking at it from an academic perspective in terms of dispersion and the spread of votes cast in the Johor election.
“Ong is looking at it from an academic point to see how you can maximise your chances, but this is a political question. You can be flexible, but you cannot compromise your principles,” Lim added.
Did you just say principles? Read following:
09 Jan 2018
Lim Guan Eng said resistance to the endorsement of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as PH's prime minister candidate was isolated. ― Picture by KE Ooi
GEORGE TOWN, Jan 9 — The majority of DAP leaders support Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) choice of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to be prime minister, party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng maintained today.
Dismissing remarks by Sangeet Kaur Deo, the daughter of late DAP stalwart Karpal Singh, Lim said such resistance to the endorsement of the 92-year-old former prime minister was isolated.
“DAP leaders support this decision and even though there are differences in views, it is not extensive or widespread, only one or two leaders,” he said.
He also described DAP as a democratic party that was open to dissenting views.
However, he said that the views of the majority of its leaders would determine DAP’s positions.
“Some of those who don’t support, they are no longer in the party,” he said.
Yesterday, Sangeet, who is a DAP member, issued a statement criticising the selection of Dr Mahathir as PH’s candidate for prime minister, saying it would only result in the return of “Mahathirism”.
“Mahathirism” is a pejorative used to deride the former prime minister’s past policies and notions.
In 2016, Sangeet had reminded DAP to keep sight of its principles after Dr Mahathir, once considered the party’s nemesis, made a historic appearance at the DAP conference then.
The party had been an unrelenting opponent to Dr Mahathir when he had been in power and for years after his retirement in 2003.
Her late father and his contemporary, Lim Kit Siang, had been among Dr Mahathir’s fiercest critics, and were both detained by the former PM under the now defunct Internal Security Act during the infamous Ops Lalang of 1987.
Lim has since become a firm ally to Dr Mahathir, despite clashing with the latter as recently as Election 2013 when both politicians hurled insults and allegations of racism at each other.
Since leaving Umno in 2016, Dr Mahathir has co-opted Pakatan Harapan by becoming its chairman and, now, candidate to be its prime minister.
“I am also close to Anwar, and Mat Sabu is probably close to Anwar too. I mean in their younger days, they were together.
“But for me and Mat Sabu, it is because we were in the same camp, we got to know each other well... when you endure the pain together, you forge a true friendship,” Lim added.
GEORGE TOWN, Jan 9 — The majority of DAP leaders support Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) choice of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to be prime minister, party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng maintained today.
Dismissing remarks by Sangeet Kaur Deo, the daughter of late DAP stalwart Karpal Singh, Lim said such resistance to the endorsement of the 92-year-old former prime minister was isolated.
“DAP leaders support this decision and even though there are differences in views, it is not extensive or widespread, only one or two leaders,” he said.
He also described DAP as a democratic party that was open to dissenting views.
However, he said that the views of the majority of its leaders would determine DAP’s positions.
“Some of those who don’t support, they are no longer in the party,” he said.
Yesterday, Sangeet, who is a DAP member, issued a statement criticising the selection of Dr Mahathir as PH’s candidate for prime minister, saying it would only result in the return of “Mahathirism”.
“Mahathirism” is a pejorative used to deride the former prime minister’s past policies and notions.
In 2016, Sangeet had reminded DAP to keep sight of its principles after Dr Mahathir, once considered the party’s nemesis, made a historic appearance at the DAP conference then.
The party had been an unrelenting opponent to Dr Mahathir when he had been in power and for years after his retirement in 2003.
Her late father and his contemporary, Lim Kit Siang, had been among Dr Mahathir’s fiercest critics, and were both detained by the former PM under the now defunct Internal Security Act during the infamous Ops Lalang of 1987.
Lim has since become a firm ally to Dr Mahathir, despite clashing with the latter as recently as Election 2013 when both politicians hurled insults and allegations of racism at each other.
Since leaving Umno in 2016, Dr Mahathir has co-opted Pakatan Harapan by becoming its chairman and, now, candidate to be its prime minister.
On the impression that he appeared to be closer to Mat Sabu than Anwar, Lim said this is because he had spent 18 months in prison together with the Amanah president.
kt comments: now Guanee tokking samkok (3 kingdoms)
“I am also close to Anwar, and Mat Sabu is probably close to Anwar too. I mean in their younger days, they were together.
“But for me and Mat Sabu, it is because we were in the same camp, we got to know each other well... when you endure the pain together, you forge a true friendship,” Lim added.
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