The coming general election will be the last chance for the rakyat to oust the government in two decades, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said today.

In an interview with media in Johor Bahru, Lim said this scenario is likely if Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak stays in power after the 14th general election, more so if he obtains a two-thirds majority in Parliament.

"Not only will we face a regression, we will need to wait for 10 to 20 years for a change of government via democratic processes," he stressed.

Spoiling votes

Lim said this amid the increasingly visible #UndiRosak campaign, a response to Pakatan Harapan revealing its chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad (photo) as its prime minister-designate.

Those who support the campaign and are calling for spoilt votes at the ballot box, do not have "third choice,” he added.

"What’s the third choice? It will end up in the present system. So, if that is the third choice, then there is no third choice."

Lim also stated that #UndiRosak supporters lack an in-depth understanding and a more macro perspective on the country’s present political scenario.

"We do not merely want to change the government and the prime minister, more importantly, we want a series of changes and transformation (of the system)," he said, but evaded questions on whether the movement would impact Harapan’s chances in GE14.

The Gelang Patah MP only noted that such a campaign was not new to Malaysia, as the Labour Party mobilized a boycott in the 1969 polls.

The opposition has often argued that the people who vouch for institutional reform must vote for Harapan those who voted for BN "accepted corruption." 

Lim denied Harapan was manipulating public opinion by not respecting diverse views, including those calling to boycott the election and spoil the votes.  

Harapan will reach out to this frustrated group, he said. 

On the public backlash against Harapan's choice of premier, (Dr Mahathir), he was a different person now, added Lim.  

"Mahathir is a different Mahathir now, he cannot operate the way he operated in his 22 years during Umno's hegemony. In Harapan, we work in consensus," he said. 

Meanwhile, Lim dismissed the Iseas-Yusof Ishak Institute's research which found that DAP could become Bersatu's "Achille's Heel" in Johor. 

"I do not agree with that. I don't think DAP is the Achille's Heel of Bersatu," he said.

Lim said he was saddened by the fact that propagandists continue to paint him as eyeing the prime minister's post even he was recuperating from sickness. 

He, however, warned Umno that the Malays are more sophisticated and educated now. 

"This shows that Umno is quite desperate (as the party is) losing Malay support. But, I don't believe Malays are that stupid," he said. 

"The next poll will be a test whether the Malays are so gullible that they can be a victim of demonization of Umno propagandists and cyber troopers."