Kit Siang: Anti-Harapan forces want to 'torpedo' coalition before Feb 21

DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang believes that "conspirators and plotters" have attempted to "torpedo" Pakatan Harapan before the coalition's leaders meet on Feb 21.

In a statement today, Lim (above, left) said anti-Harapan forces are hoping that "something big" will scuttle the coalition before the presidential council meeting next Friday.

"These opposition conspirators and plotters (looking) to torpedo the Harapan government before the 15th general election have misread the character and commitment of Harapan leaders to reset nation-building policies to develop the talents of Malaysians and leverage on the four great civilisations which meet in confluence in Malaysia to develop the country into a world top-class nation, and end the trajectory of Malaysia as a kleptocratic, rogue and failed state," said Lim.

Lim was referring to statements by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim (above, right) on an alleged plot to scuttle Harapan's 2018 agreement for him to succeed Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to hand over reigns.

Anwar said the plot involved MPs from PAS, Umno and even his own party PKR. However, he added that Mahathir was not part of the plot.

According to Anwar, the matter of transition will be "finalised" at the Harapan presidential council meeting. 

Read more: First Harapan presidential council meet in 3 months – seismic shift awaits?

The alleged plot was first unveiled by Sarawak Report, which claimed that a large number of MPs were canvassed to sign a statutory declaration citing their support for Mahathir, 95, to serve out a full term.

This followed the revelation by former Umno supreme council member Lokman Noor Adam that party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was also looking for support among his party leaders to back Mahathir.

PAS has also gotten into the act by pledging to move a motion of confidence for Mahathir (below) to serve out a full term in the coming Dewan Rakyat sitting, which begins on March 9.

Meanwhile, Lim said Harapan was committed to fixing past wrongs with the objective of improving the lives of Malaysians.

"We are committed to achieving a turnaround in all aspects of Malaysian life so that we can set about to achieve our objective of a united, harmonious, just, democratic, progressive and prosperous Malaysia, which (will then become) a world top-class nation.

"Let us make this parliamentary meeting the most important one, not only in the history of the 22-month Harapan government but in the nation's history, by implementing the most number of Harapan promises of a New Malaysia (as made) in the 14th general election," he said.