DAP wants DPM to apologise for 'republic' remark

DAP wants DPM to apologise for 'republic' remark

2:57PM Dec 5, 2011

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin should apologise for claiming DAP wants to turn Malaysia into a “republic” as it is a “downright lie” said Lim Kit Siang.

Speaking at the Pakatan Rakyat rally last night in Shah Alam, the DAP veteran repeated his statement earlier this week that the party had not made the statement as alleged.

“This is a downright lie as no DAP leader had ever made such a statement.

“I challenge Muhyiddin to substantiate his speech and declare which DAP leader, who, where and when such a statement wanting ‘the Prime Minister's position to be selected based solely on elections and without being chosen by the Yang di Pertuan Agong’ was made,” said Lim (above).

He called on the Umno deputy chief to apologise or else show proof for the “irresponsible and reckless" claim made at the start of the Umno general assembly in Kuala Lumpur last week.

“If Muhyiddin (right) is unable to substantiate his irresponsible and reckless allegation at the Umno general assembly against the DAP for wanting to set up a republic, then he should apologise and retract it or he would be exposed as a liar of the first order.”

During the ruling party’s AGM that had made Pakatan bashing a centrepiece, Muhyiddin last Tuesday in officiating the Umno Wanita, Youth and Puteri wings' assemblies said, "They (DAP) dare to suggest that the prime minister's position to be elected directly and not appointed by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong. What does this mean?”

He also called the opposition party “racist” and “extremist chauvinist” that wants to “undermine the Malays”.

DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng later responded saying Umno had spent the AGM bashing the opposition to draw delegates’ attention away from serious problems with the BN administration, reflected in the slide in Transparency International’s corruption index.