Own up on DPM ambitions, Kit Siang told

PETALING JAYA: The prime minister’s press secretary Datuk Seri Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad has called on DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang to acknowledge his ambition to be the deputy prime minister and finance minister should Pakatan Harapan win the 14th general election.

In a statement yesterday, Tengku Sariffuddin said it is crucial and timely for Lim to explain himself as Malaysians need to know whether he would assume the posts.

“We cannot ignore the fact that DAP is the party with the biggest number of parliamentary seats in the Pakatan alliance and therefore, in reality, has the dominant leadership position within it.

“He must tell the people whether it is his political ambition to be the deputy prime minister, as claimed by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Jan 19,” he said.

Tengku Sariffuddin said Lim’s recent overtures to PAS was due to the need for the Islamic party to endorse his ambitions.

“If it is otherwise, then Lim should make a statutory declaration, as former DAP vicechairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Ibrahim suggested, stating that he will decline the posts.

“It is the people’s right to know so they can make an informed choice before voting.”

He was responding to Mahathir’s comments that DAP had asked for the deputy prime minister’s post but later said it was MCA which had asked for it. – by G. Surach