Call on Mahathir to close down the Barisan Nasional "dirty tricks" department,  cancel all its "dirty" election  tactics and abandon the plan to make the election the "dirtiest" in the nation’s history as he is now confident of winning two-thirds majority


Media Conference Statement
by Lim Kit Siang
 

(Penang,  Wednesday): The caretaker Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad said in Kota Kinabalu yesterday that after four days of campaigning, he was confident that Barisan Nasional would win with more than two-thirds parliamentary majority on Nov. 29, 1999.

The MCA President, Datuk Seri Dr. Ling Liong Sik, said in Ipoh yesterday that the DAP’s performance would be worse than 1995 general election.

If Mahathir is really confident of retaining two-thirds majority, he should  close down the Barisan Nasional "dirty tricks department", cancel all its  "dirty" election tactics and abandon the plan to make the tenth general election the "dirtiest" in the nation’s history.

Barisan Nasional leaders and candidates are telling voters that they should choose between development or a strong opposition.  This is a false choice.

It is most sad that after four decades of parliamentary democracy, Barisan Nasional leaders and candidates still do not understand the meaning of democracy.

Development is the right of every citizen, who is also a taxpayer.  Development should not be used to blackmail voters to support the ruling parties.

Such blackmail to deny development to voters who support the Opposition is another "dirty trick"  of the Barisan Nasional to scare voters so that they could not freely and fairly exercise their constitutional right to vote.

(24/11/99)


*Lim Kit Siang - DAP Secretary-General, Parliamentary Candidate for Bukit Bendera and State Assembly candidate for Kebun Bunga