‘Kit Siang using sentiments to swing Chinese votes’

Ex-DPM Musa Hitam claims Lim Kit Siang is tearing the social fabric in Johor in his bid to garner votes.

JOHOR BARU: Former deputy prime minister Musa Hitam claims that by playing up Chinese ‘sentiments and fears’ in Johor, DAP’s Lim Kit Siang is souring the traditionally close inter-ethnic ties in the state.

“Last time when I was in school, we used to joke about each other, calling them names such as belacan and babi. It shows the closeness. In Johor it has been like that.

“Do I think it (closeness) will be affected (by Lim contesting in Johor)?.

“Of course it will be affected, this is what they hope to achieve. They want to swing the Chinese votes based on emotions and fear,” he said.

Musa was responding to a question on whether Kit Siang would be able to swing the Chinese votes away from BN in Johor.

Kit Siang is contesting in the Gelang Patah constituency against outgoing Menteri Besar Abdul Ghani Othman.

Musa, a former Umno strongman, said Johor does not need an “outsider” to come here and tell the people what is good for them.

“The outsider intends to criticize and create fear by playing out sentiments. This is out.

“I lived through the May 13. So whoever plays up the sentiments of Chinese or Malay, I won’t accept,” he said, alluding to Lim, who had spent most of his political life in other states despite being a Johorean.

Rallying behind Ghani, he said the outgoing MB has proven his track record in administering the state for 18 years, and Lim paled in comparison.

“No doubt Lim is a fearless and dynamic opposition leader, but he has no experience running a government,” he said.

Musa, also a Johorean, was at a function organized by a Pasir Gudang coalition of NGOs for BN and its Permas Jaya state seat candidate Mohd Khaled Nordin.

Khaled has the experience

Earlier when addressing some 150 attendees, Musa said Khaled, a Johor  Menteri Besar hopeful, had privately pledged to him that he would uphold the  principles of a “clean, efficient and consultative” government should he become the state chief.

He said the ‘consultative culture’ should be inculcated in the government and NGOs played a key role by being vocal to reflect issues on the ground.

When asked about the Johor Pakatan’s similar pledge in its manifesto, Musa said the differences were in the methodology.

“It’s obvious everybody must promise, but more importantly it is the ability to follow though.

“I am confident of Khaled’s ability, and combined with his experience, it can be done,” he said.