Kit Siang on Dr M: We thought he changed, but he became worse

After Dr Mahathir Mohamad described his relationship with DAP as one where they “used” each other, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang said the former prime minister had relapsed into his old habits and it has gotten worse.

“We thought that he had changed and was prepared for good governance, rule of law and a clean government. But apparently, he has relapsed and that‘s it.

“So, he has not changed. He has become worse,” Lim said.

He was responding to questions from reporters after the launch of the book ‘Lim Kit Siang: Malaysian First: Volume 2: Bold to The Last Battle’ by Kee Thuan Chye at the Sogo shopping complex in Kuala Lumpur today.

He was asked to comment on Mahathir’s statement, and whether it was the right decision to cooperate with Mahathir in 2018.

On Nov 13, during an interview on the ‘Keluar Sekejap’ podcast, Mahathir said he and DAP had merely used each other in 2018 to reach the common goal of toppling then prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke, however, said DAP was sincere in working with Mahathir, with hopes that the veteran politician had changed and could help bring change.

During his ‘Keluar Sekejap’ interview, Mahathir also said non-Malays should assimilate by “becoming Malays” and be part of “Bangsa Malaysia”.

Responding to this, Lim told reporters that Mahathir should read his own speeches about the Vision 2020 initiative.

In his 1991 speech laying out his vision for a developed Malaysia in 2020, Mahathir spoke of a ‘Bangsa Malaysia’ with a sense of shared destiny, at peace with itself, territorially and ethnically integrated, living in harmony with full and fair partnership, and having political loyalty and dedication to the nation. - Mkini