By Sira Habibu, The Star
Dissension within Pakatan Rakyat has spread and the simmering feud between DAP and PKR leaders broke into the open when Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohd Hashim verbally attacked Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Describing the DAP secretary-general as a “dictator, a chauvinist and communist-minded”, Zahrain who is the former state PKR chairman, said Pakatan should stop compromising with the leader who is from Malacca as Lim had failed to deliver its general election promises.
Stressing that he was not attacking the DAP, Zahrain said Lim would become a liability to Pakatan in the state if he continued the way he was now.
“Lim does not like to be criticised. He is quick to label those who criticise him as Barisan Nasional agents,” he said. “Even his own party colleagues do not have a say the moment Lim makes up his mind.”
Zahrain said among the election promises that were not kept were the introduction of local council election and an open tender system.
“Lim may be reluctant to push for local council election because it will diminish his power if Penangites use that as an avenue to pass verdict on the state’s performance.
“He also promised an open tender system, but he has made the process worse by personally chairing the tender board,” he said, adding that there was better check and balance during Barisan’s rule.
He said when he criticised Lim for his dictatorial ways of managing the state, he was accused of being an Umno agent.
“I am certainly not an Umno agent. I just do not want to see Pakatan going against its promises,” he said. “It is a shame for Pakatan and its principles when projects are awarded based on who knows who.”
Zahrain said Lim was not suitable to be Penang Chief Minister because he was not a local and did not understand local sentiments.
“He has failed to bring in foreign investments despite travelling all over the world to attract investments,” he said.
“Voters are watching. Penangites are very particular about economic progress.”
Zahrain also questioned why a third of Lim’s speech during the Pakatan convention was in Mandarin.
“As a leader of the Pakatan, he should respect people of all races and speak in a language understood by all.”
The attack by Zahrain comes in the wake of the open defiance of Kulim Bandar Baru MP Zulkifli Noordin against party orders over the ‘Allah’ issue.
This led to a feud between Zulkifli and PAS’ Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad when the former even lodged a police report against the PAS man.
Zulkifli even challenged his party disciplinary board which let him off with a slap on his wrist but this in turned angered PKR’s political bureau chief Datuk Zaid Ibrahim who had quit as an Umno member, minister and senator to join the party.
Zaid criticised the party for letting off Zulkifli lightly saying it was no more than a poor copy of Umno.
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