Lim Kit Siang Should Hand Out an Olive Branch to Abdul Ghani & Appoint Him as a DAP Senator

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang has expressed disappointment over Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's decision not to admit former Johor menteri besar Abdul Ghani Othman into his new cabinet.

"It is most unfair and ungrateful for Umno leaders to drop Ghani like a tonne of bricks after he failed to defeat me in Gelang Patah," said Lim (right).

Lim garnered 54,284 votes in the May 5 general election, while Ghani, in his first ever electoral defeat, drew 39,522, votes.

Lim said he had openly acknowledged that Ghani had made an invaluable contribution to the development of Johor and that his experience should be tapped as a cabinet member.


He said he was surprised that there are those within Umno resisting Ghani's return to national politics, citing Former Barisan Elected Representatives Association (Mubarak) as an example.

Mubarak had raised its objection to appointing those who lost in the general election to government posts, which Lim argued was aimed at Ghani.

If Kit Siang thinks so highly of Abdul Ghani, he should seek the permission of his party's CEC to appoint Abdul Ghani as a Senator on his party's quota in Penang.

I am sure the appointment would allow Abdul Ghani to continue contributing to nation building and help the DAP to reach out to the Malay community.

It would be a waste and a mistake to watch such a good leader fading away from the national politics.

It would be more productive and the right thing to do for Kit Siang to hand over an olive branch to Abdul Ghani and to save his political career for our common good.

I trust the good judgement of Kit Siang.