Kit Siang says OK to Nizar

What to do? The rice has become porridge.

DAP leader Lim Kit Siang has decided to relent, apologizing for any offence the palace might have suffered as a result of yesterday’s statement that DAP will boycott the appointment of PAS state secretary Mohamed Nizar Jamaluddin as Perak Mentri Besar.

Apparently, Kit Siang has slept over it, listened to his advisers, and decided it was better to be a gentleman rather than flog a dead horse.

Accordingly, the DAP will be attending the swearing in ceremony at Istana Kinta at 4pm today.

The palace has yet to announce the Deputy Mentri Besar II, which will come from Parti Keadilan Rakyat and represent the Indian community.

DAP Perak chief Ngeh Koo Ham, who will be sworn in As Deputy Mentri Besar I, has stated his willingness to work with Mohamed Nizar Jamaluddin, a move perceived as conciliatory and sensible given the population makeup of Perak.

With the election of representatives from each of the major races to the chief posts of the state legislative assemblies in Penang and Perak, it looks like these two states will be at the forefront of the Great Malaysian Experiment. Penang will be led by DAP man Lim Guang Eng as Chief Minister, PKR’s Mohamed Fairus Khairuddin as Deputy CM I and PAD Prai assemblyman P. Ramasamy as Deputy CM II.

Mohamed Fairus Khairuddin is 32, a graduate from UK while P. Ramasamy, 58, is a political scientist. Both are fresh faces in the political scene.

In Selangor, there is still no news of the appointment of its Deputy Mentri Besar although PKR secretary-general and Ijok assemblyman Khalid Ibrahim will be sworn in as Mentri Besar at Istana Bukit Kayangan in Shah Alam at 2pm today.

Among the candidates being considered for the Deputy post are Kinrara assemblyman Teresa Kok, who is also Seputeh MP; Pandamaran assemblyman Ronny Liu; and Sungai Pinang assemblyman Teng Chang Khim. All three are from the DAP. Teresa Kok’s candidature is followed with keen interest as it would make history for Malaysia should she be chosen. It would make her the first woman Deputy Mentri Besar in the country.