By Adib Zalkapli, The Malaysian Insider

KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 — The federal opposition contested the 12th General Election without a common manifesto, although it managed to prevent three-cornered fight in almost every seat.

But the outcome of the election left the parties with no choice but to work together said DAP’s Lim Kit Siang.

Kit Siang: ‘Pas should learn, DAP should learn, PKR should learn, all Malaysians should learn that we have to work.’ — Pic by Choo Choy May

In 1999 the party paid a heavy price for forming Barisan Alternatif with PKR and Pas.

Then Barisan Nasional’s campaign message that “a vote for DAP is a vote for Islamic State” managed to convince a large section of the urban electorate to vote against the Chinese-dominated party.

“We came about because the people voted us, they created a situation unless we work together, BN will come back by default,” said Lim Kit Siang referring to the situation in Perak and Selangor last year where BN continued to be the party with the highest number of seats in the state assembly.

“We came together so we can combine our strength, if necessary to replace the BN,” added the DAP Parliamentary leader.

But Lim has not forgotten the failed cooperation ten years ago, where he was defeated in Bukit Bendera.

“After the 1999 election because Pas was the main beneficiary, it started to focus on the Islamic state and the hudud issues, although the DAP had tried to restrain and to reason, but we could not make any headway, we pulled out. So are we going to go that way again?” asked Lim.

The Barisan Alternatif, despite its common campaign platform, collapsed in 2001 due to ideological differences.

“So Pas should learn, DAP should learn, PKR should learn, all Malaysians should learn that we have to work together,” he told The Malaysian Insider.

“Whether we can successfully manage our differences so we can present a cohesive and credible alternative will decide whether we make or break history,” he added.

Apart from bringing the three parties to work together, the people also have higher expectations since March 8, said Lim.

“The political tsunami has brought about a higher plateau of hopes and possibilities. Until the last general election I think the overwhelming majority did not believe in the possibility for change,” he said.

“It breaks the mould of 51 years of seemingly unbreakable and rigid political structure dominated by Umno political hegemony. For the first time people see the possibility for change, which many did not expect,” said Lim.

He added that even Umno realises the need to change but has not been serious in responding to the people’s demand.

“Even Najib talked about ‘reform or perish’, but it has turned out to be a sheer political charade, in fact recent events show that it’s getting worse,” said Lim referring to recent remarks made by Umno deputy president Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

He said that the situation in Perak, where the legislative assembly was stopped from holding an emergency session provides another proof that the ruling coalition is not interested in reform.

“There is intrusion into the doctrine of separation of powers. It affected the judiciary 21 years ago. Now it is affecting the legislature,” he added.

The Malaysian Insider . 2009.03.08