No PR shadow cabinet… for now.
When opposition leader and PKR president Wan Azizah Wan Ismail announced in Parliament yesterday that she would initiate heart-to-heart talks between PR leaders and form a shadow cabinet, it was met with muted response.
DAP secretary general Lim Guan Eng in an immediate response yesterday had alluded to the shadow cabinet being a non-starter because of differences between DAP and PAS, and he reinforced the party’s stand at two press conferences earlier today — one during the launch of Penang Institute’s KL office, and another in Parliament.
“I don’t think it is possible at this moment. If you want to talk about any distribution of portfolios at the moment, it can only be done at party level. As for the Pakatan level… while I would not say there is no possibility at all, it is just not at this moment.
“When we took our position on the issue of hudud implementation, where there was no consultation whatsoever (between PAS and PR), we have no confidence that there will be consultation on issues of national importance,” he said.
A PR shadow cabinet is not a possibility at this point, says DAP sec gen Lim Guan Eng
When asked if DAP will only work for a shadow cabinet if Hadi is replaced as PAS chief, Lim simply said that Hadi would definitely be the next president of PAS, as it is “a given.”
“But we stand by our position, because we don’t want to be played for the fool. They (PAS) don’t keep promises they made in the meetings, so how can we continue to function and operate like that?
“When you talk about a shadow cabinet, there must be prior consultation, but we have no confidence there will be prior consultation. He (Hadi) doesn’t even consult his own party, so how can we expect him to consult with us?” Lim said.
He reiterated this later, at Parliament, as he announced the DAP MPs in charge of specific portfolios. (Click here for full list)
Among the DAP MPs assigned to portfolios are Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua for the Finance portfolio, Kluang MP Liew Chin Tong for the Transportation portfolio, Serdang MP Ong Kian Ming in the Health and Environment portfolio and Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari in the Education portfolio.
Lim, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang and senior MP Dr Tan Seng Giaw do not hold any portfolios.
On this, Lim said the reason for DAP’s own shadow cabinet is to simply raise the benchmark on drafting public policy and on good governance.
At the same time, however, Lim said DAP’s shadow cabinet is not the “be all, and end all.”
He said that DAP is definitely willing to work with PKR, and have the heart-to-heart talks that Wan Azizah proposed, and even with PAS MPs who are willing to come together on common issues.
– The Rocket
