Kit Siang says loser can be deputy prime minister

DAP’s Lim Kit Siang has indirectly proposed that Anwar Ibrahim be appointed as deputy prime minister in a soon-to-be-formed government, as it becomes known that the PKR president has failed to obtain the majority support.

“If there are only two names for the position of prime minister, then one can be prime minister and the other deputy prime minister to form a war Cabinet to combine all political forces in a war Parliament to gain control of the war against Covid-19 pandemic and to pave the way for 15th general election in 18 months’ time,” Lim said in a statement, as 114 MPs head to Istana Negara today to personally verify their choice of prime minister.

It is understood that the 114, comprising MPs from Perikatan Nasional, Umno and GPS, backed Ismail Sabri Yaakob for prime minister in their statutory letters to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong yesterday.

The move indicates Anwar’s failure to obtain the support of the majority.

Lim, in making his proposal, said Malaysia was in its “darkest hour” and that the remedy was a “war Cabinet and a war Parliament”.

Anwar served as deputy prime minister under the Barisan Nasional government in 1998, his last post in a ruling capacity before his dramatic sacking by then-prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.