RUMOURS of a plot by Pakatan Harapan leaders to move a motion of no confidence against Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad continue to persist on social media because they are being fanned by PAS for self-serving purposes, said Lim Guan Eng.

The DAP secretary-general said the Islamist party is doing all it can to distract attention from allegations that it took money from Umno under the previous Barisan Nasional government.  

“We all know they want to distract attention from the lies they’ve made. They admitted to making these lies, especially on receiving money from Umno,” the finance minister told reporters when prompted on the matter tonight.   

“I think it’s a desperate tactic,” he said during a Chap Goh Meh celebration organised by the Klang Hokkien Association at its headquarters.

“The fact they’ve not been able to show proof shows that this is a desperate, dirty tactic to undermine confidence in PH as well as to try to save them.

“Up until now, they’ve not been able to show proof – where and when and who has said that we want to put forward a no confidence motion against Dr Mahathir.

“I want to state that not only DAP but all the PH component parties have regularly stated their full and undivided support for Dr Mahathir’s leadership.”

PAS secretary-general Takiyuddin Hassan told reporters in Semenyih on Sunday that two PH component parties planned to move a no-confidence vote against the prime minister, and that his party would support Dr Mahathir when this happened.

Lim shot down the claims in a statement, calling it “a false accusation, with elements of slander and lies”.

On a challenge by PAS youth leader Muhammad Khalil Abdul Hadi to PH components to endorse Dr Mahathir to serve as prime minister for a full term, Lim said: “He is not from PH.”

“Who is he to make such claims? I feel it is better for him to answer the people why PAS lied about receiving money from Umno. Why did PAS’ leadership accept the money?

“He may want to create stories. I don’t think they would convince the people. Only people who are taksub (fanatics) will believe. They themselves have admitted that they have lied before and that it is alright to lie. I don’t understand this.

“I feel that no parent would ever teach their children to lie. This is not the fault of their parents. No parent would tell their children to lie. Only an immoral party would teach you to lie.”

Lim also refuted a claim by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang that the country is being controlled by non-Muslims under the PH government.

“This isn’t right at all. The prime minister and the deputy prime minister are Muslims. All the security forces are led by Muslims, from the armed forces to the police. 

“I regret that, for the sake of saving themselves and their political future, they would incite hate against non-Muslims and non-Malays.

“The PAS president has said that it is not acceptable for a non-Muslim to be a minister. That deviates so much from the federal constitution.”

Lim yesterday said that PAS should instead focus on addressing allegations raised by whistleblower site Sarawak Report on the party receiving RM90 million from Umno.  

Takiyuddin had said on Sunday that his party promised to support Dr Mahathir in the event of a no-confidence vote in Parliament against the prime minister.

He said the party’s position, should a vote of no-confidence come to pass, was among several issues discussed during a closed-door meeting with Dr Mahathir on Friday.

He also said PAS would not back PH in the Semenyih by-election.

“The three of us – Hadi, (Terengganu Menteri Besar) Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar and myself – signed a letter saying we would back Dr Mahathir should a vote of no confidence take place in Parliament,” Takiyuddin said. – February 19, 2019.