Bau, Sept 9, 2012: Parliamentary Opposition leader Lim Kit Siang analysed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is importence and inability to enforce the timetable for the stepping down of Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Taib Mahmud.
"This is one noteworthy consequence from Najib's continuous vacilation and postponement of the general election," Lim said at a DAP political gathering here last night.
He recalled that Najib had invested a lot of energy and political capital to get Taib to agree to a timetable to pass the baton of Sarawak Chief Minister before the Sarawak state general election on April 16, 2011.
He said that on March 19 last year, for instance, Najib made the announcement in Serian that Taib would step down as Chief Minister when the time was right, that he and Taib had reached an understanding on when the transition of power would take place.
He quoted Najib as saying:" Leave the succession plan to me and the Chief Minister. We know when time is right to make the change in Sarawak. We know and I can assure you that the Chef Minister is ready.
"When the time comes, he is ready to leave the stage and we have a very good understanding when that is going to happen., : Lim quoted Najib, who is also the Barisan Nasional chairman and Umno president, as telling reporters.
Three weeks later, Najib was more specific, promising Sarawak voters at a Barisan Nasional election function in Kuching that Taib would step down as promised, declaring: "I have discussed with the Sarawak CM and he has agreed to have a leadership change in Sarawak. Believe me, in me, at the right timing, this will be done."
When pressed at the time, Taib equivocated although he finally mentioned "two years" as the timeframe of his stepping down as Sarawak Chief Minister after the Sarawak state general election on April 16, 2011.
Taib's two-year timeframe to step down as Sarawak Chief Minister will be up in seven months' time but there are absolutely no signs that he is prepared and ready to honour his understanding and undertaking with Najib to effect a transition of power in Sarawak.
In fact, all the signs point to the opposite, as Taib seems to be ensconced to complete his full term as Chief Minister.
This explains Taib's speech earlier yesterday that there is no need to speed up leadership change as the people of Sarawak were able to "enjoy peace, political stability and organised development".
It would appear that Taib's speech yesterday is specially meant for Najib's ears, with the unmistakable message that he is not going to honour his understanding with the Prime Minister on stepping down as Chief Minister.
A test of will between Taib and Najib is currently underway, with Taib thumbing his nose at the Prime Minister, defying Najib to see who could last longer politically.
Taib is confident that Najib is too weak politically to try to enforce their understanding before the 416 Sarawak state general election to be Sarawak Chief Minister for only two years.
Najib will be leading the entire Federal Cabinet to Bintulu for the Malaysia Day celebrations on Sept 16.
This will also be the most appropriate occasion to clarify whether his understanding with Taib on the latter's stepping down as Sarawak Chief Minister two years after the Sarawak state general elections still stands, so whether it has "Gone with the Wind"!
Lim, meanwhile, urged the people to make Bau history in the general election for Pakatan Rakyat.
"Bau is famous when Pandelela Rinong, a Bidayuh from Bau, won a London Olympics bronze medal in diving. So next let Bau make history in this upcoming election," Lim, who is also the DAP adviser, said.
He said that the whole country, including Bau, has been waiting has
been waiting impatiently for the 13th General Election for close to two years, with many expecting it to fall on 11.11.2011 or "11.11.11" in view of Najib's special preference for "11".
Lim said he did not think that the prime minister is ready because of the BN's internal problems, the latest being the defection of two MPs in Sabah at the end of July.
"Najib feared and has a total lack of confidence in his own ability to lead UMNO/BN to victory in Putrajaya in the 13th GE, hence the postponement," he said.
"Now, all speculation of 13GE date is again focused on Najib's favourite number of "11" - November this year, ranging from Nov 3 to Nov. 29.
"There seems to be greater credibility this time, as the de facto Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir has given his blessings for November general election although he had earlier warned of dire consequences to UMNO if the13th General Election was called before UMNO was ready.
"But whether the 13th GE is called in November or not, time is running out for Najib. Under the Constitution, the present Parliament will stand automatically dissolved on April 27, 2013, or in less than eight months' time - i.e. five years from the first sitting of the present Parliament on April 28, 2008 - with new elections held within 60 days," Lim added. By Sematong Express
