Noting that they are both old men nearly past their political prime, DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang made a heartfelt appeal to Sarawak Chief Minister Adenan Satem today to join hands with him and ensure that the coming state election will be truly free, fair and democratic.

"I said that both Adenan and I are septuagenarians - he at 72 and me at 75. We do not have many active political years left," Lim said in a statement.

As they are both in their twilight years, the veteran politician called on Adenan to consider doing something worthwhile that would leave a noble legacy for future generations, instead of fighting to keep other old men, also way past their political prime, stubbornly in power.

"Let us do something worthwhile in the evening of our lives, such as promoting democracy, national unity and Sarawakian rights of autonomy, instead of abuses of power to prop up a political party past its shelf life.

"Let the 11th Sarawak state election be a clean, free, fair and democratic one," appealed Lim, who is also Gelang Patah MP.

'Let the election be clean, free and fair'

He added that he has no problem with Adenan leading Sarawak BN to an election victory, if it is the result of a clean, free and fair democratic election that could be the pride of Malaysia and the world.

"There is not a single person, whether in Sarawak or in Malaysia, who doubts that Adenan will be returned in the 11th Sarawak state election as the chief minister of Sarawak," he said,

Lim said as far as who would form the next Sarawak state government, nobody would dare to say that the Sarawak BN could be denied and defeated.

However, he argued that it would be better if this state election was clean, free and fair, for it would not only cement BN's rule but also Adenan's integrity and future legacy.