KUALA LUMPUR: MCA said yesterday DAP chairman Karpal Singh’s support for PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to be the prime minister should the Pakatan alliance take over the federal government contradicts his own stand.
In a statement issued here, MCA Youth chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong said it should be remembered that when Anwar was planning for his failed Sept 16 takeover of the federal government in 2008, Karpal had demanded that Anwar resign as the opposition leader.
“This back-pedalling demonstrates that in order to win federal administration, DAP will easily switch their position and go against their own principles.
“If an Opposition stalwart like Karpal Singh who wields strong influence among his loyalists can simply change his position to back Anwar as prime minister, this clearly signals that that DAP is willing to make any u-turns and go against their own principles just so to woo public support in their aim to wrestle Putrajaya,” he said.
Meanwhile, MCA national organising secretary Datuk Tee Siew Kiong in a separate statement said Karpal’s stand on Anwar was only made to deceive the people as their claims were never supported or approved by PAS.
“While Pakatan Rakyat did say that Anwar Ibrahim is their candidate for prime minister after the general elections in 2008, PAS later claimed that their president, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang, was more qualified to hold that position than Anwar Ibrahim.
“After that statement by PAS, no other Pakatan Rakyat leader brought up the subject again,” he said.
Tee also said when Anwar released a statement saying that DAP’s Lim Kit Siang will be appointed as the deputy prime minister if the pact takes over the federal government, PAS replied that Lim must be a Muslim first and this has caused Anwar Ibrahim to change his stand. — Bernama