GEORGE TOWN: DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng is confident that the people will reject Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is known as "Father of the MCO" as the 10th prime minister.

This, he said, was because the people did not agree with the way he handled the Movement Control Order (MCO) at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and the country's economy during his tenure.

"Muhyiddin said he is eligible to be the prime minister again and he is proud he implemented the MCO... he is the Father of MCO, 'Abah' MCO.

"But do we want a prime minister like him, 'Abah' MCO, who caused hardship and suffering to the people until they had to raise the white flag?  

"I believe the people don't want the Father of MCO to be the prime minister again because, if anything happens, he will only implement the MCO, which has burdened the people and destroyed the economy.

"Enough, we need to reject him. Don't tell me he was unaware that by simply implementing the MCO, the people's lives became difficult.

"As such, I am confident that the people will reject 'Abah' MCO as they disagree with the way he handled the MCO and the country's economy," he said at the state DAP headquarters here today.

Lim, who will be defending his Bagan parliamentary seat, said even the Perikatan Nasional chairman was targeting him now, with lies that he (Lim) had cut fundings for some government agencies involving Bumiputeras.

At that time, Lim was the finance minister under Pakatan Harapan's rule.

"That is a lie... we will deal with it after the polls. I say it's a lie because he never showed proof. He (Muhyiddin) talked about letters that I had written, cutting financing for Teraju and Equinas. Show me the letter.

"Let us not get distracted by that. If I want to take any legal action, it will be after the polls. But for now, the focus is on the people," he said, adding that his detractors had even used race and extremism in trying to divide and threaten the people.

As such, he said, the people should exercise their right as Malaysian citizens on Nov 19, without being subjected to such threats.

Lim was also asked how he thought Pakatan Harapan was faring, nearer to the polls, to which he said the coalition needed to maintain their discipline and focus on their core message — that this election is about the people.

"Don't get sidetracked, don't get distracted and of course don't get overwhelmed by all the negativity to divert attention of the people away from the real issues at hand, namely the economy, corruption, failure of government, delivery and services and most of all, sacrificing lives in the middle of the monsoon season just to hold this general election.

"Our focus is on the people's welfare and on the country. We can give better services, make Malaysia better. We don't see Perikatan Nasional, Pas or Umno talking about economic issues and the people's hardship.

"The real punishment against those who use racism, extremism and lies is for people to vote (against them) on Nov 19," he added.