JOHOR BARU: Lim Kit Siang has invited his opponent Abdul Ghani Othman to a public declaration that they will commit to moderate politics throughout the election campaign.
“I invite Ghani together with me, both of us make a public declaration that we would not play the race or religion cards.
“I will make the commitment that what I say to the Chinese will be the same as what I say to the Indians,” he told a press conference today.
Lim would be taking on Ghani, the outgoing menteri besar of Johor, for the Gelang Patah parliamentary seat, which is one of the main focal points in this election.
The DAP leader extended the invitation after the election race for the hot seat was slightly deflected by racial remarks made by both sides.
Ghani told reporters last Saturday that the opposition is attempting to create voting polarisation along racial lines in Johor, in an apparent reference to Lim.
He also warned the Chinese audience at a function last Sunday that should Pakatan Rakyat come into power, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang might be the prime minister.
Lim responded by saying Ghani sounded like a Malay extremist similar to Perkasa president Ibrahim Ali when he uttered the remarks.
Meanwhile, Lim also mocked BN for playing up two contradictory racial messages in their advertisements in the mainstream newspapers.
“MCA is telling the Chinese community that Chinese’s interest would be in danger should Pakatan win power, but Umno is telling the Malays that their rights are being trampled on.
“How can it both happen at the same time? Who is threatening who?” he asked.
