DAP vice-chairperson says Rahman Dahlan should tell the prime minister to step down instead of targeting Lim Kit Siang.
KUALA LUMPUR: DAP vice chairperson Teresa Kok has called on Umno minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan to ask his own party president and Prime Minister Najib Razak to step down, instead of targeting DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang.
Kok, who is MP for Seputeh, today hit out at Rahman over his comment that Kit Siang should retire from politics as there were DAP grassroots members who wanted a change in their party’s leadership but did not dare voice such a view in the open.
She criticised Rahman for “talking rubbish”, saying his assertion was baseless and typical Umno propaganda.
She insisted that Kit Siang, who is Gelang Patah MP, remained a popular figure in the party.
“The truth is that at age 76 and having been in politics since 1969, Kit Siang is still highly respected in the party and enjoys strong support among DAP leaders and grassroots,” she said in a statement.
Rahman, a minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, yesterday told reporters he believed many DAP leaders who did not dare to speak up about this matter outside would be thankful to him and his colleagues in the Barisan Nasional for saying it was time for Kit Siang to retire.
He made the comment after Kit Siang had earlier announced that Gelang Patah would be his “first choice” if he was chosen to run in the upcoming 14th general election.
Kok pointed out that Lim was not the secretary-general of DAP. (The post is held by his son Lim Guan Eng who is also Penang chief minister).
Kit Siang had stepped down from the position in 1999 and is presently the DAP parliamentary leader. He was the third secretary-general, former Kota Melaka MP Kerk Kim Hock was the fourth and Guan Eng the fifth, she said.
She added that Kit Siang contested in every central executive council (CEC) election of the DAP held every three years and consistently won a seat with high votes. “This shows his popularity with the grassroots and delegates,” she said.
“Kit Siang is today still one of the most invited speakers at DAP ceramahs and dinner functions. This shows his popularity with the people,” she stressed.
Kok said if Rahman was a brave man, he should call on Najib to step down as prime minister and retire from politics.
“I don’t have to elaborate on why Najib should step down as Abdul Rahman and many Umno ministers should already know why Najib has been described as the worst prime minister by the people,” she said.
“I am sure if Abdul Rahman dares to make the call, he will find his call will strike resonance with Umno grassroots and many Malaysians,” she claimed.
“The question is does he dare to risk losing his minister’s position as this is what will immediately happen to him for making the call.”