DAP adviser Lim Guan Eng has questioned whether UMNO should remain in the Penang government, citing what he described as the party’s growing cooperation with Perikatan Nasional (PN) and Pas.
He said UMNO’s continued presence in the state administration could affect public perception of the Pakatan Harapan (PH)-led government, particularly if the party was seen as working with the opposition while remaining part of the state government.
Lim said Penang PH chairman Chow Kon Yeow’s decision to criticise him rather than UMNO over its attacks on PH suggested that the state leadership was concerned about what might happen if UMNO left the government.
According to Lim, his earlier remarks were not directed at Chow but at UMNO president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, whom he challenged to similarly call for UMNO to be removed from the Penang government after challenging PH to remove the party from the Federal Government.
“Instead of responding to UMNO’s attacks for cooperating with the opposition PN, Kon Yeow has chosen to criticise me.
“PH leaders in Penang should not be afraid of offending UMNO, which is attacking PH while promoting what I consider divisive politics involving non-Muslim minorities and excluding non-Malays,” he said in a statement today.
Chow had previously described Lim’s call for the Penang government to “close the door” on UMNO as his personal view rather than the official position of DAP.
The Penang Chief Minister said any decision on UMNO’s position in the PH-led state government should be made by the PH’s top leadership, including the PH Presidential Council.
Lim said public perception was an important factor in politics and argued that there was little value in retaining UMNO in the state administration if the party could simultaneously work with PN and Pas.
He claimed that keeping UMNO in the state government could create a negative perception of PH leadership for allegedly failing to recognise what he described as an “enemy from within”.
“The price of keeping UMNO is negative perception of the Penang PH leadership and state government for failing to realise that ‘the biggest enemy is the enemy within’,” he said.
Lim also claimed that UMNO had taken credit for the defeat of DAP secretary-general Loke Siew Fook in the Chenaah state seat during the recent Negri Sembilan state election.
He said DAP leaders had every right to respond to what he described as baseless allegations against PH or Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“Kon Yeow may not want DAP leaders to voice their views, but there is no directive from Anthony banning us from speaking,” he said, referring to Loke.
Lim, a former Penang chief minister, said the final decision on whether UMNO should remain in the state government rested with the top leadership of DAP and PH.
However, he said Penang PH leaders should take a position on the issue and convey it to the coalition’s top leadership.
“Does PH or Kon Yeow not have a firm position after all the attacks by UMNO at the recent UMNO General Assembly?” he asked.
Lim also claimed that UMNO continued to hold positions in the Penang State Executive Council, two local authorities and state-linked companies because it knew its departure would have little political impact on the PH administration.
He said the state government could still retain a two-thirds majority in the Penang Legislative Assembly without the two UMNO assemblymen.
“UMNO is clinging to positions in the state government because it knows that leaving would not have a significant political impact.
“Without the two UMNO representatives, the PH Penang government would still retain a two-thirds majority in the state assembly,” he said.
Lim had earlier challenged Zahid to call for UMNO to be removed from the Penang government, following the UMNO president’s challenge to PH to remove the party from the Federal Government.
Lim said Zahid had openly challenged the PH-led coalition to expel UMNO from Putrajaya during the recent UMNO General Assembly.
