Lim Kit Siang’s wisdom

By LIM SUE GOAN
Sin Chew Daily
2013-03-28

13th general election
Opinion

As wisdom comes with age, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang is having the best political view among Pakatan Rakyat leaders.

Why is Lim Kit Siang leading DAP leaders to attack Johor? He revealed his campaign layout during an interview with the Sin Chew Daily.

He believes that the 308 political tsunami has not reached its peak and the wind of anti-ruling stopped at Negeri Sembilan. The purpose of attacking the southern peninsula this time is to make the tsunami which has not completed its task five years ago to reach its peak and hit the south-central peninsula, shaking the bastions of Umno and the MCA.

Although the responses of Chinese voters in Johor have given the DAP confidence that the tsunami this time would start from southern peninsula and spread its impacts to the northern part, Johor, after all, is the BN’s bastion and thus, there is a certain level of risk for Lim Kit Siang to take such a move this time, particularly when Johor Malay voters still tend to support the BN.

Despite the risk, Lim Kit Siang, who has engaged in politics for 47 years, knows that the fleeting opportunity will be gone if they do not grab it. Therefore, he bets his political career to achieve the goal. He is stronger than Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in terms of this. Anwar started to consider only after some one suggested that he should leave the Permatang Pauh parliamentary constituency and contest in Perak. However, he has taken no action so far.

Lim Kit Siang did not misjudge the strong wind of anti-ruling emerged in Chinese communities of Johor. This can be proven by the warm responses received at Pakatan Rakyat’s political ceramah. And I got the same feedback from my friends when I returned to my hometown, Kluang.

The tsunami of the 2008 general election hit Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor and even Kuala Lumpur, causing the BN to lose four states to Pakatan Rakyat. Some of my Johor friends are still excited when they talk about the history and hope to have a chance to participate in it. As Lim Kit Siang said, the tsunami would come from the south.

Lim Kit Siang had contested in Selangor, Penang and Perak. Whether he can create a miracle in Johor this time, we shall wait and see.

Another move that has highlighted Lim Kit Siang’s political wisdom is the suggestion of dissolving Pakatan Rakyat state assemblies together with the Parliament, instead of dissolving them earlier.

It is a response to Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim’s plan to dissolve the state assembly earlier to leave Najib no way to further delay the election. However, to make Khalid’s plan work, the state assembly must be dissolved in February so that the general election has to be held in April. Dissolving the state assembly now can no longer bring a “coercionary” effect as the Negeri Sembilan state assembly has automatically dissolved.

If Khalid dissolves the state assembly now, the Selangor state government will become a caretaker state government. Although we currently have no guideline on the limits of authority for caretaker governments, a caretaker government should avoid making major decisions and approving funds. If the BN appropriates a huge amount to the state after the state assembly is dissolved, Selangor Pakatan Rakyat would then be unable to counter the attack.

Since Najib can ignore the automatic dissolution of the Negeri Sembilan state assembly, would he still care about the automatic dissolution of the Selangor state assembly? Moreover, the Pahang state assembly will also dissolve automatically if the Parliament is not dissolved by 7 April.

No matter until when the election date is delayed and no matter whether the Parliament should be automatically dissolved on 28 or 30 April, the general election must be held by 28 May.

Moreover, the situation might be more favourable to Pakatan Rakyat if it takes the strategy of not forcing the BN to dissolve the Parliament as some voters might become sick of the delay.

Khalid was an entrepreneur and thus, lacks political experience. He should first consult Lim Kit Siang so he would not have to become a laughingstock who claimed to have an early dissolution of state assembly but has taken no action so far.

Lim Kit Siang serves as the best example of the saying: elders are treasures.