DAP should accept MB from PAS

Coalition members must have trust

It was with deep regret and sadness I read the report, Lim: DAP rejects Nizar as MB.

The Perak State Constitution must be respected and its provisions honored at all times. As it stipulates The Menteri Besar (MB) must be a Malay Muslim, it has be so. The Sultan may waive this condition if conditions require so. This would apply if any party obtains a majority to form the government by itself.

Unfortunately this was not the case as the DAP secured only 18 out of the 59 seats. In this case the best Malay Muslim candidate must be chosen, regardless from which party he comes, as they are all members of the coalition that won the election. If Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin,from PAS is the most eligible so be it.

It was with great difficulties that we formed the coalition among DAP,PKR and PAS.that brought us the victory which we thought would be impossible. Why throw it down the drain so fast? Even if DAP does not favour PAS it has to give in for the sake of the coalition’s long term success.

The most important prerequisite for the coalition to succeed is trust, which sad to say is lacking especially in DAP.Lim Kit Siang should allow a free hand to his leaders in Perak to work out the deal and stick by it. If the DAP continues with the boycott, I am afraid BN will take over the rule. Remember BN has 28 seats.

DAP should accept PAS candidate if it wants the coalition to survive.

Dr.Chris Anthony

Lim: DAP rejects Nizar as MB

Mar 12, Malaysiakini 08 8:19pm

While the long-drawn debate on who should be the Perak mentri besar finally came to an end today, an unexpected twist came in the form of DAP leader Lim Kit Siang who said that his party had not approved PAS’ Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin to lead the state.

“The decision to appoint a PAS assemblyperson Mohamad Nizar Jamaludin as Perak mentri besar has caused shock and consternation to DAP leaders, members and supporters,” he said in a brief statement today.

The statement came just hours after it was announced in Ipoh that the Regent of Perak has agreed on Nizar’s appointment.

Earlier Nizar, state DAP chairperson and Sitiawan state assemblyperson Ngeh Khoo Ham and PKR’s Behrang assemblyperson Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi had met with Regent Raja Nazrin Shah.

Ngeh and Jamaluddin were the two other candidates vying for the post.

The three of them later told a press conference that the regent had agreed with Nizar’s appointment as well as the appointment of Ngeh as deputy menteri besar (1) and an Indian candidate - to be named later - as deputy menteri besar (2).

Lim however in a five-paragraph statement released today said that the DAP was only prepared to accept either Ngeh or Jamaluddin Mohd Radzi as Perak mentri besar.

He added that at a March 9 meeting - the day after Saturday's polls - the party leadership only gave approval for the formation of a Perak coalition government comprising 18 DAP assembly members, seven PKR assemblypersons and six PAS assemblypersons.

According to him, the party did not give its consent to the appointment of a PAS leader to helm the state.

Lim ticked off by supporters

Lim also said that as such all DAP Perak assemblypersons would stay away from the swearing-in ceremony for Perak mentri besar scheduled tomorrow.

When contacted for an immediate reaction, Nizar said: “We believe that as a coalition government, all decisions will be collective.”

“We would not respond to comments being made outside the new coalition government," he added.

Previously, Ngeh had told reporters that all three parties would respect the decision of the sultan and cooperate to form the new state government.

Efforts by Malaysiakini to reach Ngeh has been unsuccessful.

Lim's statement has been posted in his personal blog, and it received 100-odd responses from readers within 90 minutes, a majority of which slammed the DAP leader for the decision.