The 14GE objective is not only to remove the UMNO/BN federal government in Putrajaya but also the UMNO/BN state government in Sabah

In September this year, former Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that if there is a four per cent swing against UMNO/BN in the 14th General Election, the UMNO/BN coalition would lose 45 seats, the majority of which are UMNO seats.

This would mean the UMNO/BN coalition getting even less seats than what the Pakatan Rakyat won in the 13th General Election.

With the loss of 45 seats, the UMNO/BN coalition would be reduced to 88 parliamentary seats and would occupy the Opposition benches in Parliament.

Muhyiddin should know what he is talking about as he was the Election Director of UMNO/BN coalition until he was summarily sacked as Deputy Prime Minister because of his disagreement with the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak over the international multi-billion dollar 1MDB kleptocratic money-laundering scandal.

We do not want to have a phoney or fake opposition to win some 25 parliamentary seats in the 14GE and to play the role of “king-maker” who could throw their lot and support to the UMNO/BN coalition to ensure that Najib Razai can continue as Prime Minister, although Najib won an even lower percentage of voter support than in the 13GE in 2013!

Is it possible to ensure a four per cent swing of voters against the UMNO/BN coalition in the 14th General Election?

The four per cent swing of voters against the UMNO/BN coalition in the 14GE is not an impossible goal, especially as there is an unprecedented degree of restiveness and opposition to Najib and the UMNO/BN coalition, even among the Malay-dominated civil service whether at national or state government level!

Patriotic Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, cannot accept recent adverse developments where the country is regarded worldwide as a “global kleptocracy”.

What is a “kleptocracy”? I explained in the recent budget meeting of Parliament that “kleptocracy” is a government of 3Ps – Pencuri, Perompak and Penyamun

The recent shocking case of Sabah’s RM3.3 billion Water Department corruption scandal, where 60 per cent of the RM3.3 billion earmarked in the Tenth Malaysia Plan to improve the supply of clean and treated water in the state, was siphoned off into private pockets of a corrupt few, is the latest proof that Sabah has also become a kleptocracy.

In early October, not only Sabahans but Malaysians and the world were shocked that the

Ops Water in Sabah by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission resulted in the seizure of more than RM114 million in cash and accounts, 19.3 kg of gold jewellery worth about RM3.64 million, some 97 designer ladies handbags worth RM500,000, nine luxury vehicles and some 127 land titles from the Director and Deputy Director of Sabah Water Department in the massive abuse of power and corruption involving infrastructure projects worth RM3.3 billion.

But it is almost three months since the shocking Sabah corruption seizures and arrests, but up to now, there is not a single person charged in court.

Sabahans and Malaysians are entitled to ask: In the world-wide anti-corruption campaign, “tigers” in China and “crocodiles” in Indonesia” are being caught and jailed. Why is it in Malaysia, only the “ikan bilis” are being nabbed while the “ikan yus” are still scot-free?

This is why the 14GE objective is not only to remove the UMNO/BN federal government in Putrajaya but also the UMNO/BN state government in Sabah.

DAP is prepared to co-operate with other political parties in Sabah to achieve this 14GE objective, but there must be mutual respect which is not the case when some opposition leaders recently laid down terms that the DAP must stay out of the Sabah state elections.

This is not going to happen, as Sabah DAP had been working very hard in the interior areas especially in the Keningau, Tenom and Pensiangan parliamentary constituencies.

I endorse the stand taken by the Sabah DAP Chairman and MP for Sandakan, Steven Wong, that the DAP will be contesting in the Keningau, Tenom and Pensiangan areas for both parliamentary and state assembly seats in the 14GE – as one of the challenges of Sabah DAP in the 14GE is to prove that DAP not only have the support of the urban voters but also in the interior.

I look forward to see more DAP Kadazan-Dusun-Murut elected representatives to be elected at both parliamentary and state assembly contests, to follow in the footsteps of the first DAP KDM Sabah State Assemblyman, Dr. Edwin Bosi (Kepayan).

In the 13th General Election, Barisan Nasional would have lost in four parliamentary and eight state assembly seats if not for split votes among the Opposition candidates.

The four parliamentary constituencies are Keningau, Kota Marudu, Pensiangan and Tenon and the eight state assembly seats are Elopura, Melalap, Kundasang, Liawan, Paginatan, Kiulu, Nabawan and Tambunan.

The Opposition votes in the next elections should not be split and divided, for this only benefits UMNO and Barisan Nasional in Sabah.

There are two ways to ensure that Opposition votes are united: Either a one-to-one electoral contest or even if there are three-cornered or four-cornered electoral contests, to ensure that Opposition votes are united in supporting the candidate of a credible and principled opposition party.

The election slogan in the 14GE should be – Save Malaysia to save Sabah. Political Change in Putrajatya as well as political change in Sabah!

Lim Kit Siang DAP Parliamentary Leader & MP for Gelang Patah