KUALA LUMPUR, DEC 27: A DAP lawmaker is mulling legal action against the Umno-controlled New Straits Times (NST) for a report claiming that the DAP is plotting to secure a Deputy Prime Minister post.

DAP Parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang in a statement said, he has instructed lawyers to look into legal action against the English-language daily for its report, “DAP’s plot to secure DPM post“, which was published today.

The report quoted Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi claiming that the DAP’s decision to support the opposition’s pick for the Prime Minister post is simply a ploy to secure a Deputy PM post for itself, specifically, for Lim. The report further claims that Lim met with former PM Tun Mahathir Mohamad on Dec 3 to “seal the deal”.

Lim, who is also Gelang Patah MP, stressed that the report is a total figment of imagination.

“I never met Mahathir, whether on Dec. 3 or before, to “seal a deal” on the question of PM or DPM if UMNO/Barisan Nasional is ousted from Putrajaya.  In fact, I had never at any time discussed such a question with Mahathir,” Lim said.

“The report is pure fantasy. It is a mark of the times where moral and ethical standards have fallen so low in Malaysia, that even in the journalistic world, the maxim “Opinions are free but facts are sacred” have been totally abandoned by what was once the country’s premier national daily but which has become an unprincipled and opportunistic political party rag,” he added.

The NST had previously been sued by Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng, as well as by elections watchdog Bersih, for defamation. -The Rocket