DAP leader Lim Kit Siang is lamenting that the top two leaders of PAS are willing to defend Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak even thoguh the country is facing the threat of becoming a failed state under his leadership.
He said this in reference to statements from PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang and PAS spiritual leader Haron Din on the allegations that Najib had taken US$700 million in state funds (RM2.6 billion).
"It is most unfortunate that at this pivotal period of national development to ensure that Malaysia does not become a failed state, drowned in the morass of rampant corruption, abuses of power, socio-economic justices and collapse of good governance, the two top leaders in PAS are giving Najib the strongest defence and support," Lim said in a statement today.
While Hadi and Haron ( photo ) did not give their outright support to Najib in the scandal, they appeared to break from the opposition convention and were more than diplomatic with the prime minister.
Haron had said it it was illogical for Najib to deposit state funds into his private bank accounts and he hoped the report was not true, while Hadi said there had to be witnesses if judgment is to be passed on Najib.
'Come together, stand against corruption'
Nonetheless, Lim continued to urge progressive MPs to come together and stand against corruption.
"The time has come for all progressive and patriotic MPs and political leaders in Malaysia to come together on a common programme to save Malaysia from becoming a failed state as a result of rampant corruption, abuses of power, socio-economic injustices and the collapse of good governance," he said.
This is amid plans by progressive PAS leaders to break away from their party after being ousted in the party elections early last month by the conservative hardliners.
Lim ( photo ) added that he had hoped progressive leaders in Umno would also join in this cause, pointing out that it hoped to see progressive Umno MPs at the gathering of lawmakers in Parliament on Tuesday, where the embezzlement allegation against Najib was discussed.
The MPs were blocked from using Parliament's meeting room and were made to sit on the floor outside. No MP from the ruling coalition turned up.
"I had hoped that a few progressive Umno/BN MPs would turn up in Parliament yesterday to express concern and solidarity with all the progressive opposition MPs and NGO representatives about the deplorable state of national affairs.
"Are there enough progressive and patriotic MPs and political leaders in Malaysia to save Malaysia from becoming a failed state as a result of rampant corruption, abuses of power, socio-economic injustices and the collapse of good governance?" Lim asked.
The Wall Street Journal last Friday reported that US$700 million in state funds was deposited into Najib's private bank accounts with AmBank.
Najib has threatened to sue the publication but it is standing by its report.
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'PAS top two back Najib despite failed state threat'
