GE14 | For decades, Lim Kit Siang had opposed Dr Mahathir Mohamad and the latter's former heir-apparent, Anwar Ibrahim.
And when Mahathir sacked Anwar in 1998, the DAP leader had joined hands with the latter to wage war on the former premier and his successors.
However, Lim, Mahathir, and Anwar are now on the same team, claiming to have set aside their differences and acrimonious past to save the nation. But their critics claim it is nothing more than a hypocritical alliance to wrest power.
In a press statement this afternoon, Lim said given their respective age, the 14th general election would be the last for him, Mahathir and possibly even for Anwar.
“I am 77-years-old and the 14th general election is going to be my 12th and last general election battle.
“Mahathir is now 93-years-old and nobody expects him to lead any movement for political change in the 15th general election in five years' time in 2023,” he added.
As for Anwar, Lim pointed out that the PKR de facto leader, who is slated to be released from prison on June 8, would turn 71 in less than four months.
“And if Harapan fails on May 9 to form the government, which means Anwar will not be the eighth prime minister as decided by the Harapan presidential council, it is difficult to imagine him at the forefront of a national campaign for political change in the 15th general election,” he said.
According to Lim, next week's national polls would be a “now or never” and “do or die” battle.
“If the 15 million voters can walk the 'last mile' for the first political change of prime minister, government and national policies on May 9 and vote for Harapan, then it will embrace all the 'last mile' which BN had been promising but unable to complete in the past few decades,” he said.
Lim also addressed the issue of a Malay tsunami in this election, saying that the million dollar question is if it would be powerful enough to dislodge caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak and BN from Putrajaya.
He also cited pollster Merdeka Centre's finding that while there was a Malay tsunami at the beginning of April, it was not strong enough to put Harapan in power.
However, Lim said in a general election, events and perceptions are telescoped and shortened in an extraordinary way.
“A phenomena which normally take months to shape can happen within a matter of days.
“The stakes are high and we must not waste this golden opportunity for the first political change in the country in 61 years for such an opportunity is not going to return for a long time,” he added.
