GEORGETOWN, Oct 9 — The DAP says it will cooperate with outgoing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to fulfil his exit agenda of reforming the judiciary and other government institutions. DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who is also Penang Chief Minister, pledged to work with Abdullah as he winds down his premiership in the next few months.
In announcing his departure as Umno president and Prime Minister by next March, Abdullah said he would oversee the tabling of legislation to establish a Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), an independent anti-corruption body and a Special Complaints Commission for the police.
Lim said the DAP, however, did not agree with a Special Complaints Commission and instead wanted an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission to be formed in accordance with the recommendations of the Royal Commission of Inquiry.
In a press statement today, Lim said that it would support the JAC "provided that there is no executive interference and its members are independent, non-partisan, academically qualified, of impeccable repute and has representatives from credible bodies such as the Bar Council, the Law Associations of Sabah and Sarawak."
He added that the anti-corruption body must "adopt stringent anti-corruption measures, including action against BN leaders involved in abuses of power."
The DAP leader pointed out that despite making anti-corruption central to his campaign, Abdullah's tenure has seen Malaysia's ranking in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index fall from No. 37 in 2003 to No. 47 this year.
Lim said that as the first PM from Penang, Abdullah should also restore the billions of ringgit of federal funding earmarked for infrastructural projects in the state.
Lim also asserted that Abdullah was forced out of the party.
"Abdullah's admission that he had not been doing well and the time has come for someone else to take over is an admission he was pushed out from his party, suffering the same humiliating fate as the first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman.
"Ironically, both men were well liked by Malaysians and more popular or respected than their party Umno and BN," he said, adding that it is the party and not the person that is the problem.
"Making Abdullah the scapegoat is not the solution," Lim stated and likened Umno to "an ostrich putting its head in the sand" as it is in denial over its policies and politics being rejected by the people. - TMI
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