Happy 93rd birthday Tun, his ex-greatest adversary wishes

PETALING JAYA: Two men, who have been at odds with each other throughout their political careers, have been brought together for a common good.
On the eve of the 93rd birthday of his former adversary, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang wished Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad many happy returns.
The MP for Iskandar Puteri wished Mahathir: "Happy 93rd Birthday Tun – Many happy returns to build a new political legacy of democracy, justice and unity as well as Malaysia as an international top class nation which is a 'beacon of light in a disturbed and distracted world'."
How did two politicians, formerly on different political ends and have been at loggerheads for 53 years, come together for a common cause?
"Many have kept asking how I could co-operate with Tun Mahathir when in the past, for the best part of my 53 years in politics, we had been at loggerheads," Lim said at at the Kelantan DAP Hari Raya Aidilfitri Open House at Kota Baru last night.
"With me in the Opposition while Mahathir was the fourth Prime Minister for 22 years from 1981 to 2003. I was even detained for 18 months with Guan Eng under the Internal Security Act during Operation Lalang from October 1987 to April 1989."
Lim said Malaysia was placed in unparalleled peril under the sixth prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, with Malaysians ashamed to admit that they are Malaysians in the international arena because of the infamy, ignominy and iniquity of becoming a global kleptocracy.
"Could Malaysia be saved from Najib in the 14th General Election?" Lim asked.
"Nobody could be sure but a supreme effort had to be mounted, for we believe that Malaysians who want a clean, just, free, democratic and united Malaysia are more patriotic than Malaysians who are prepared to see Malaysia go down the drain to become a failed, rogue, kakistocratic and kleptocratic state.
"Hence the formation of Pakatan Harapan, with Tun Mahathir Mohamad as the Prime Minister-designate with the pledge as contained in the Pakatan Harapan 14GE Manifesto to save and build a New Malaysia."
Lim said Malaysians did what was thought the impossible on GE14 Polling Day on May 9, and the whole world noticed that in an era when democray worldwide is in decline, Malaysians have returned to the world stage to provide hope and leadership to reclaim democracy as the best form of government for the ordinary people as compared to the elites.
"In the process, all political leaders and even Malaysians have a lot to learn from both the successes and mistakes of nation-building in the past six decades – whether Mahathir, (Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim or even myself as we have to be more sensitive and sensible with regard to the legitimate aspirations of all Malaysians."
It is often said there are no permanent foes nor friends in politics, but suffice to say these two political enemies came together for the greater good of the nation.