DAP Chairman Lim Guan Eng said cooperation between the party and Barisan Nasional (BN) in forming the unity government ensured the well-being of the people. 

In his opening speech at the 2023 DAP congress, Lim said the relationship that was forged after the last general election was highly appreciated. 

“From foes to friends, as long as the people are taken care of. Prior to that, it was unimaginable,” he said, adding that the presence of BN Chairman and Umno President Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and his entourage at the congress today made history.  

He said in the span of nine months, the unity government had succeeded in bringing down inflation to 2% in July and sustained economic development as well.  

“We now have the National Industry Master Plan to draw in RM95 billion in investments in order to increase median monthly salary to RM4,150 by 2030,” he said.  

Touching on Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) success at the Pulai and Simpang Jeram by-elections yesterday, Lim said it proved people are backing the party as they wanted a multiracial unity government to serve and care for all Malaysians. 

“This is the people’s aspiration, from the peninsular to Sabah and Sarawak. Malaysia belongs to those who are born here, grew up here, work and pay taxes here and built their families here,” he said.  

He said the current government was also supported for its efficient management of the economy and tackling cost of living issues.   

Lim said the party would not be swayed by dirty politics that played up racial sentiment and used slander and scare tactics to divide the people. 

“Do not fall for the political wolf masked as principled statesman or young people who uphold old politics, full of jealousy and envy, just to take revenge,” said Lim.  

He said he was sure Perikatan Nasional (PN) would distort their loss as a win just because they obtained more votes. 

“I want to remind PN that they described the election in six states as a referendum on the leadership of the prime minister (Anwar Ibrahim) by the people, but PH-BN won the popular vote with 49.5%.     

“The people support the unity government as they want political stability, to shift the focus on the economy and well-being of the people. Enough of politicking, now let us see who can enable the people to have better lives,” he said.   

In the Pulai parliamentary by-election PH candidate Suhaizan Kaiat won by a majority of 18,641 votes, defeating PN’s Zulkifli Jaafar and Independent candidate Samsudin Mohamad Fauzi. 

For the state assembly seat in Simpang Jeram, PH’s Nazri Abdul Rahman won by a majority of 3,514 in the contest against PN’s Dr Mohd Mazri Yahya and Independent candidate, S. Jeganathan. – Bernama, September 10, 2023.