Kit Siang: Najib must affirm peaceful transition if BN loses

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak has been urged to make a firm commitment on behalf of Umno and BN that he will ensure a peaceful transition should the ruling coalition lose the coming general election.

In making this call, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang described Malaysia as not an ordinary democracy.

The pledge of a smooth transition should Pakatan defeat BN in the coming polls given by Umno secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and MPs Abdul Rahman Dahlan (Kota Belud) and Tajuddin Abdul Rahman (Pasir Salak) is insufficient, the Ipoh Timor MP added.

"They cannot undo what Najib has said, which can only be done by the PM himself. His continued silence is both ominous and a very poor reflection of his commitment to both democracy and political transformation in Malaysia," Lim said.
'First ensure that we are a normal democracy'

"Najib must be reminded that before talking about Malaysia becoming the 'best democracy in the world', he should first ensure Malaysia becomes a normal democracy, where no one doubts there will be a peaceful transition of federal power."

In normal democracies like the United Kingdom, European Union countries, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the United States and even in Japan, none of their citizens would have doubts about a peaceful transition of power after an election.

Unfortunately, Lim said, this was not the case in Malaysia, as even the PM, his cabinet, Umno and all the component BN parties were not prepared to make a clear and unequivocal commitment in preventing a recurrence of the tragic May 13, 1969 episode.

"Najib cannot delay in making a public commitment to accept and facilitate a peaceful transition if this is the verdict of the electorate, and prevent any repeat of May 13.

"Or, would Najib be proving right the 'false democrat' tag by having no intention of handing over power?" he asked.

On the other hand, Lim has, on behalf of Pakatan vouched that the coalition was ready to work closely with Umno and BN to ensure that there will be no repeat of May 13 in the next general election.

Tengku Adnan yesterday urged the opposition leaders, especially Lim, to work with BN to prevent a repeat of the racial clashes of May 13 and added that he hoped the opposition coalition would abide by what it said.