Media Statement by Lim Kit Siang in Petaling Jaya on Thursday, 14^th May 2009: 

Perak constitutional crisis has become a Malaysian political crisis undermining national confidence in the key national institutions and impairing Malaysia’s international image and competitiveness

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak has said that Pakatan Rakyat must not set terms or conditions if it wants to talk about the co-operation to resolve the Perak political crisis.

As I said in my speech at the public forum “From May 13 to 1Malaysia – The Future of Malaysian Nation Building” at the Petaling Jaya Civic Centre last night, Pakatan Rakyat leaders will meet today and this subject will be top on the agenda.

On Saturday, while travelling between Kangar and Alor Star, I received news that the remaining three Hindraf leaders, DAP Selangor State Assemblyman Kota Alam Shah, P. Uthayakumar and K. Vasanthakumar, had been sent off from Kamunting Detention Centre for release under the Internal Security Act.

In a media conference in Alor Setar at about 4.30 pm, I said that the time had come for Najib to have a summit meeting with Pakatan Rakyat leaders to resolve the protracted Perak constitutional crisis and political stalemate.

I said that the release of the Hindraf leaders by themselves were not adequate measures to restore public confidence in key national institutions in the country, especially when the Perak constitutional crisis had become a Malaysian political crisis undermining national confidence in the key national institutions and impairing Malaysia’s international image and competitiveness.

On the Perak crisis two days after the May 7 Day of Infamy in the Perak State Assembly, where the legitimate and lawful Perak Speaker V. Sivakumar was physically dragged out of the Assembly, I made three specific proposals:

• Firstly, the Cabinet must discuss the Perak crisis as it has become a national problem;

• Secondly, all Umno, MCA, Gerakan and MIC leaders, whether national or Perak, must assume individual and collective responsibility for the Perak constitutional and political impasse, as it has brought shame and infamy not only to Perak but also to Malaysia undermining our international competitiveness to face the world economic crisis.

• Thirdly, Najib should hold a summit meeting with Pakatan Rakyat leaders to find a solution to the Perak crisis.

I note that the Cabinet at its meeting yesterday had discussed the Perak crisis, which it should have done very much earlier, in view of its national and international repercussions for the country.

The Perak crisis has seriously damaged national and international confidence in key national institutions whether the police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC), Election Commission, the civil service, the judiciary or the monarchy.

For this reason, the Prime Minister, the Cabinet and all Barisan Nasional leaders whether Umno, MCA, Gerakan or MIC cannot evade responsibility by “passing the buck” claiming that it is only a state problem.

I see no need for anyone to impose any conditions for talks by political leaders to resolve the Perak constitutional crisis and political stalemate – as the condition is to uphold national interest to resolve it immediately in accordance with recognized democratic principles without further impairing national and international confidence in Malaysia and its key national institutions.

Most important of all, Malaysia must send out a clear and unmistakable message that we are not degenerating and deteriorating into a failed state like Zimbabwe where the vital doctrine of separation of powers to ensure democracy is a total farce.

The Perak crisis will be top on the agenda of the meeting of Pakatan Rakyat leaders today, which will be held at the PAS Hqrs in Kuala Lumpur at 2 pm.

*Lim Kit Siang, DAP Parliamentary leader & MP for Ipoh Timor