KOTA KINABALU: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) president Datuk Teo Chee Kang is puzzled as to why DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang is shying away from the position of opposition leader.
With 38 parliamentary and 96 state seats, Teo said DAP is undoubtedly the strongest opposition party.
By convention, its leader, Lim Kit Siang, should be the opposition leader in Parliament, he said.
“It is obvious that he (Lim) is playing the leading role not only in taking on the front bench in Parliament, but also in running Pakatan Harapan (PH) as a whole.
“I am puzzled as to why he is shying away from the position of opposition leader. Constitutionally, he is even qualified to be the Prime Minister!” Teo, who is also the Minister of Special Tasks, said in a press statement yesterday.
By not taking up the top leadership of Pakatan Harapan or parliamentary opposition leader, Teo said Lim gives the impression that he is using Malay leaders within PH to fight Barisan Nasional (BN).
“The question in everyone’s mind is, even though DAP is not the leader of PH, will DAP exert its influence and call the shots in PH through Malay proxy leaders?
“Will DAP be the puppet master behind the scene? Lim Kit Siang must come out clean and explain to Malaysians because it is very strange to see the biggest party in a coalition allowing minor parties to take the lead,” he said.