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Saturday 21 March 2009

Kit Siang says Najib will not enjoy honeymoon period

By Adib Zalkapli - The Malaysia Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, March 20 — DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said today the prime minister-in-waiting Datuk Seri Najib Razak will not enjoy a honeymoon period of his first 100-days in power due to the significantly negative reception towards the idea of his administration.

“His Machiavellian machinations in his pre-100 days, like the undemocratic, unethical, illegal and unconstitutional power grab in Perak, the selective and malicious prosecution of DAP National Chairman Karpal Singh for sedition and the arbitrary and high-handed one-year suspension of DAP MP for Puchong, Gobind Deo Singh without pay and parliamentary privileges, have created widespread concern whether Najib’s ascension as the sixth Prime Minister marks the start of a national nightmare,” said Lim said in a speech delivered last night.

He added that such a growing opposition against a prime minister-in-waiting had never before happened in the country’s history.

“The latest to join this chorus is the former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, who called on the Yang di Pertuan Agong to reject Najib if Umno puts him forward as Prime Minister to replace Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and to appoint someone who would “bring us back from the brink,” said the Ipoh Timor MP.

Lim also cited various polls which show Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Badawi as still being more popular than Najib.

“I do not think anyone will dispute that if an opinion poll is now conducted, Najib’s popularity would have fallen further even below the lowest point of 34 per cent recorded in July last year, while Abdullah would have improved in his popularity rating,” said Lim while pointing out that asking Abdullah to remain as PM is not the real option.

Najib is scheduled to officially take over as Umno president next week and by tradition will be appointed prime minister.

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