Give Dr M a chance, DAP tells Sabahans

KOTA KINABALU: DAP has urged Sabahans to give Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad a chance despite the many controversial issues dogging him in the state, such as “Project IC”.

DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang said he was aware of the shortcomings under Dr Mahathir’s term as prime minister, but said Sabahans should give him a chance to “right his wrongs” by choosing Pakatan Harapan.

Addressing a crowd at Foh Sang here on Thursday night, Lim said he understood Sabahans’ feelings on Dr Mahathir’s past actions and vowed to resolve these issues if Pakatan won the general election.

Dr Mahathir is Pakatan chairman and its prime ministerdesignate.

A local daily reported that Dr Mahathir’s decision to skip Sabah on the campaign trail was part of Pakatan’s strategy.

The report quoted a Sabah DAP source as saying that Pakatan, which has a working arrangement with the Opposition Parti Warisan Sabah, agreed that Dr Mahathir should not visit Sabah to prevent the people from being upset not only with him but the alliance.

Sabahans widely associated Dr Mahathir with “Project IC” supposedly carried out during his 22year tenure as PM where identity cards were said to have been given to illegal immigrants to allow them to vote.

The controversial project was blamed for the drastic change in the state’s ethnic composition.

Barisan Nasional strategic communications director Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan said it would be a record of sorts if Dr Mahathir did not campaign in Sabah.