DAP: We don’t need DPM post
Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong refutes allegation, says DAP not a party that seeks positions for the sake of power.
PETALING JAYA: DAP does not seek the position of deputy prime minister (DPM) as alleged by several media reports, the party’s national political education director Liew Chin Tong said today.
Liew said he had accompanied DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang for a meeting with Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad recently, before the controversy arose over an alleged request by DAP for the DPM’s post.
“Kit Siang and Tun Mahathir exchanged views on the state of the economy, foreign direct investments, the politics of Sabah and Sarawak empowerment, and clarity in political realignment,” the Kluang MP said.
He said that at no point did DAP ever ask for nor discuss the position of deputy prime minister.
“Tun Mahathir had explained that certain media were twisting his words and he had merely heard of such a suggestion,” Liew said.
“Kit Siang informed Mahathir that the DAP was not asking for the position,” the DAP lawmaker said.
In fact, Liew said, it was the MCA who had asked to be given a second deputy prime minister’s post in April 2009 when Prime Minister Najib Razak first came to office.
“DAP is a party of ideals and ideas, and not a party that seeks positions for the sake of power,” Liew said.
He added that the party’s political struggle is to save Malaysia and build democratic institutions for a better Malaysia.
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Liew’s statement was in response to a New Straits Times report today in which Prime Minister Najib Razak had alleged that Mahathir said that the DAP had requested for Kit Siang to be given the DPM post should the opposition win the next general election.