Media Conference Statement (2) by  Lim Kit Siang at Tawau on Monday, 21^st January 2008:

Abdullah should emulate Tunku Abdul Rahman and set an example of integrity and good governance by taking leave as Prime Minister for two months for him to go on a nationwide tour as Chairman of Barisan Nasional to prepare the 14-party coalition for the 12th general election

When he became Prime Minister more than four years ago, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi pledged that integrity and good governance would be the hallmarks of his premiership and towards this end he also launched the National Integrity Plan.

This is the time for Abdullah to set an example of integrity and good governance and I call on him to emulate Bapa Malaysia and the first Malaysian Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman by taking leave as Prime Minister for two months for him to go on a nationwide tour as Chairman of Barisan Nasional to prepare the 14-party coalition for the 12th general election.

The mainstream media have reported that after his return from Spain, Abdullah “kicked off his second nationwide tour in what many coalition members believe is the prelude to a soon to be called general election”. (New Sunday Times 20.4.08)

Abdullah should set an example of understanding and respecting the important distinction between government and party, as it is the abject failure Barisan Nasional Ministers and leaders to appreciate and uphold this important distinction which is the root cause of the rampant corruption, abuses of power and rank lawlessness in the country.

As Prime Minister, Abdullah has no business to conduct any nation-wide tour to galvanise the 14-party Barisan Nasional to prepare for the next general election expected within 50 days. When he goes around the country to rally and mobilize UMNO and the other Barisan Nasional component parties to shape up for the 12th general election, he is acting in his capacity as Chairman of Barisan Nasional which is completely different and separate from the office of Prime Minister.

As Abdullah wants integrity and good governance to be the hallmarks of his premiership, he should emulate the precedent set by Tunku Abdul Rahman who took two months leave as Prime Minister before the 1964 general election to go round the country to prepare the Alliance for the polls – with Tun Razak as the Acting Prime Minister during Tunku’s leave of absence.

Abdullah should do the same which will demonstrate his seriousness about integrity and good governance.

---

* Lim Kit Siang, Parliamentary Opposition Leader, MP for Ipoh Timur & DAP Central Policy and Strategic Planning Commission Chairman