Thursday, October 9, 2008

DAP to PM: We’ll work with you - Star

GEORGE TOWN: Oct 9, 2008

The Democratic Action Party (DAP) is willing to cooperate with Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in his last five months as prime minister on most of the initiatives he outlined on Wednesday.

Abdullah, in announcing he would not be defending his post of president of Umno, the dominant party of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, said he would spend his remaining time to push through some reforms.

The president of Umno traditionally becomes the prime minister, and Abdullah is paving the way for his deputy Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to take over, assuming he successfully wins the Umno presidency in the party polls next March.

The DAP, part of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat alliance, said it is willing to work with the outgoing prime minister on some of the reforms, including restoring the credibility of the judiciary, adopting stringent anti-corruption measures and eliminating the abuse of power among Barisan leaders.

However, the party does not agree with the establishment of a Special Complaints Commission to enhance the integrity and effectiveness of enforcement agencies, DAP secretray-general Lim Guan Eng said in a statement.

He instead urged Abdullah to adopt the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission recommended by the Royal Commission of Inquiry instead.

Lim, also the Penang Chief Minister, added that he hoped Abdullah would restore federal funding for projects in the state before he leaves office.

“Federal funding for projects to promote transport, communications, water, crime prevention, traffic congestion and flood mitigation, costing billions of ringgit, were earlier earmarked for the state before being shelved due to the fuel price hike,” he said.

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