Kit Siang names son among the potentials for opposition leader

DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang said the opposition has no shortage of talents from the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) parties to helm the position of the Opposition leader, after Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

Lim also suggested a few prominent leaders who can shoulder the task of leading the opposition pact, including his son and Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng.

“In DAP, there is Lim Guan Eng and other young but tested DAP leaders; in PKR there are Datuk Seri Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Azmin Ali, Nurul Izzah; and in PAS there is Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang and a new generation of PAS leaders,” said Lim in a Chinese New Year speech yesterday.

However, he said it is still premature to talk about the next Opposition leader now, as under the Constitution, Anwar is still Permatang Pauh MP and Parliamentary Opposition leader.

Lim also has appealed to all PR leaders to focus on how to save PR and discourage efforts to destabilise and destroy the coalition, within its ranks.

Lim said currently, PR is facing the greatest crisis in its seven-year history, aggravated by Anwar's imprisonment and the death of PAS spiritual leader Datuk Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat.

He also called on all PR leaders to adhere to the PR Common Policy Framework which binds all three parties and the principle of consensus requiring the consent of all PKR, DAP and PAS before any policy or issue could represent the coalition.