Kit Siang: Only Dr M can accomplish ‘Mission Impossible’ with rural voters

PETALING JAYA: If Dr Mahathir Mohamad cannot accomplish “Mission Impossible” by creating a wave of change among rural Malay voters, no other political leader will be able to do so, says DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang.

Speaking at an event in Batu Pahat last night, Lim said a political tsunami in both urban and rural areas was needed to effect a change in government.

“An urban political tsunami without a rural political tsunami will end up like GE13, with Datuk Seri Najib Razak continuing as a minority prime minister because of constituency gerrymandering and unfair democratic practices.

“A rural political tsunami without an urban political tsunami because the urban voters have given up hope that there is possibility of democratic change, surrendering to a sense of hopelessness about the future, will also end up redounding to the benefit of Najib, Umno and Barisan Nasional (BN).

“We need both an urban and a rural political tsunami in GE14,” he said, adding that this depended not only on individual leaders but on the efforts of all four Pakatan Harapan (PH) component parties – PKR, DAP, Amanah and PPBM.

Mahathir, who is chairman of PPBM and PH, has been named the coalition’s candidate for prime minister ahead of GE14.

PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail meanwhile is PH’s deputy prime minister candidate.

Saying that BN was “clearly rattled” by the decision, Lim called on all Malaysians to unite and vote for the first change of federal government in 60 years.

“The most important lesson of the 13th general election of May 5, 2013 is that unless we can ensure a political tsunami in both the urban and rural areas, it will be impossible to bring about political change in Malaysia through the democratic process,” he said. -FMT