Not even once did I attempt to influence Dr Mahathir’s cabinet line-up – Kit Siang

Soft Launch of the NTF (Non-fungible token) project of Tony Pua’s “Langkah Sheraton” painting. The Member of Parliament for Petaling Jaya Utara Tony Pua (centre) celebrated his 50th birthday Monday with the offer an ingenious plan to Malaysians to co-own the painting. Proceeds from the sale of the painting, which captures the images of politicians involved during the Sheraton move, will be used to raise funds for DAP during the 15th General Election campaign. With him are (from left) DAP National Publicity Secretary Teo Nie Ching, Lim Kit Siang, DAP Secretary-General Anthony Loke and Bakri MP Yeo Bee Yin.

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 1 – Not even once have “I suggested to Mahathir who should be appointed to Cabinet or high office, and the posts he or she should hold, before or after (Tun Dr.) Mahathir became Prime Minister of Pakatan Harapan Government,” DAP Member of Parliament for Iskandar Puteri Lim Kit Siang disclosed today.

Speaking at a press conference in conjunction with the Soft Launch of the NTF (Non-fungible token) project of Tony Pua’s “Langkah Sheraton” painting at Theatre Impian in Bukit Jalil here today, Kit Siang made the comments in response to what he said was “the continuous attempts to paint DAP in a bad light.”

“There is an attempt through fake news, false allegations and repetitive demonisation to paint the political developments in the country after the 14th General Election in 2018 in black-and-white terms – with the 22-month Pakatan Harapan government painted in the blackest of hues.

“The Prime Minister, Ismail Sabri justified the Sheraton Move conspiracy at the Selangor Barisan Nasional Convention yesterday with the allegation of  DAP dominance in the Pakatan Harapan government.

“How could this be, for the DAP had six Ministers in the 28-member Pakatran Harapan Cabinet – how could six members dominate 28 members?

“Just like the allegation of the DAP was anti-Malay and anti-Islam, this allegation of DAP dominance in the Pakatan Harapan Government had no basis or truth whatsoever.

“I have never suggested to Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad who should be appointed to Cabinet …I wanted Mahathir to have a free hand, based on the pledges Pakatan Harapan had made in the Election Manifesto.

“I met Mahathir in mid-2019 to impress on him the importance of fulfilling the election pledges of Pakatan Harapan, and I suggested to him to be frank with the people if  there were any election pledge which could not be fulfilled and to explain why, as I believed the people will understand such frankness.

“I had hoped to meet the Prime Minister in the mid-term of the Pakatan Harapan Government, whether Mahathir or Anwar Ibrahim, but the Pakatan Harapan Government was unconstitutionally, undemocratically and illegally toppled at the end February 2020 after 22 months – the infamous Sheraton Move.

“We must make the people understand that the Pakatan Harapan parties were serious about the Pakatan Harapan pledges, and we were given five years to  fulfil them, but in 22 months the Pakatan Harapan government was toppled from office and denied the five years to implement them.”

–WE