Month: March 1969

Who is the true champion of the people’s interest – the DAP or the MCA

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the first anniversary celebration of the Serdang Bahru DAP Branch on Sunday, 9th March 1969 at 8p.m.

The DAP has been accused by the MCA of being a Chinese chauvinist party.

If the DAP is truly a Chinese chauvinist part, then the DAP will only have Chinese members and leaders, and not the multi-racial membership and leadership as we have in the DAP. Our National Vice Chairman, Nor Jettey bin Mohamed, our Deputy Secretary-General, Daing Ibrahim bin Othman, are Malaysians of Malay origin. Our Another Deputy Secretary-General, Dr. K.S.Das, our National Treasurer, Dr.S.Seeverratnam, Central Excecutive Councillor Dr. A.Seerian and Mr.C.V.Devan Nair are Malaysians of Indian origin.

Just as at the level of the DAP national leadership, we have Malaysians of all racial origins, so too at State and branch levels, we have a completely multi-racial composition.

This is in direct contrast to the racialist structure of the MCA, which only allows Chinese to join as member and to become leaders. Continue reading Who is the true champion of the people’s interest – the DAP or the MCA

“Only MCA competent to represent the Chinese” – to betray their legitimate rights and interests

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP Public Rally at Jelebu, Negri Sembilan, on Wednesday, 5th March 1969 at 8p.m.

In his message to the MCA on the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the Deputy Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak said that the Malaysian Chinese was “the only party competent to represent the Malaysian Chinese.”

There are two ways of representing Malaysian Chinese, or any particular community. One way is to represent the Malaysian Chinese in their fight for equal Malaysian citizenship, free study and use of the Chinese language and culture, and equal rights in every sphere of Malaysian life, whether in education, economic opportunities or cultural development.

The other way is to represent the Malaysian Chinese in the acceptance of a racialist policy, which seeks to make Malaysian Chinese second-class citizens of Malaysia, by branding them as non-bumiputras, the elimination of the Chinese language and Chinese education through a ‘one nation, one language’ policy, and the practice of discrimination against them in education, economic sphere and in cultural life.

The MCA has represented Malaysian Chinese competently in the second category, not to fight for their legitimate interests, but to slavishly accept and implement UMNO’s racialist policy and betray the legitimate rights and interest of Malaysian Chinese. Continue reading “Only MCA competent to represent the Chinese” – to betray their legitimate rights and interests

Electricity for Puchong 14.m.s.

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the Puchong 14.m.s. DAP Branch on Tuesday, 4th March 1969 at 8p.m.

Even up to today, there is still no electricity for the people of Puchong 14.m.s when their friends at Puchong 12.m.s, which is a much smaller area, have already been enjoying the facilities of electricity for a considerable time.

There is no reason why electricity cannot be extended to Puchong 14.m.s. if we have a government which genuinely cares for the welfare and livelihood of the people.

The people of Puchong pay as much taxes and rates as people in other areas, which have electricity. Why are the people of Puchong 14.m.s discriminated against?

The people of Puchong want to know what the Member of Parliament for the area, Mr. Michael Chen, the Parliamentary Secretary to Tun Razak, had done in the last five years to bring electricity to Puchong 14.m.s. to light up the lives of his voters in the area? Continue reading Electricity for Puchong 14.m.s.

Can a Cabinet Minister be a director of private firm?

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the second anniversary dinner of the DAP Penang Branch at Violet Café, Jalan Magazine, Penang on Saturday, 1st March 1969 at 8p.m.

Is it proper for a minister of the Cabinet to be one and the same time a director of a private firm?

Is it proper, say, for a Minister of Commerce and industry to be also a director of a private manufacturing firm, or for a Minister of Housing to be a director of a private firm dealing with the sale of construction materials?

I ask the Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, and the Director of Anti-Corruption Agency, Inche Harun bin Hashim, this question.

When the Anti-Corruption Agency was set up early last year, its Director, Inche Harun bin Hashim, hit the headlines continuously, with his announcement of anti-corruption measures, and his determination to act against all those dealing with corrupt practices – including politicians. He said no one was too high or too low for him to investigate. Continue reading Can a Cabinet Minister be a director of private firm?