Month: April 1969

I will not withdraw a single word that I have said

Press Statement by DAP Organising Secretary and Parliamentary Candidate for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, on 21st April 1969:

Mr. Koh Kim Leng is at liberty to institute whatever legal proceedings, but I will not withdraw a single word that I have said

Mr. Koh Kim Leng and Alliance politician are very fond of issuing threats because they do not have reason, argument and facts to match the DAP’s reasons and arguments.

Mr. Koh Kim Leng has again resorted to threats against me. In a statement yesterday, Mr.Koh Kim Leng accused me of distorting his speech at the Alliance rally at Hereen Street, where he said that the Chinese will lose their citizenship if they vote for the opposition.

Mr. Koh now explains that what he meant was that if he and the Alliance candidates lose, and the PMIP wins, then the Chinese will lose their citizenship.

This is Mr. Koh’s present explanation of his speech made at Hereen Street on April 14. I reject his explanation. I am satisfied that Mr. Koh Kim Leng has blatantly threatened the Chinese in Malaysia that if they don’t vote for the Alliance and himself, they stand to lose their citizenship. I have said that this is downright blackmail, and a most shameful act, and I stand by every word I have said. Continue reading I will not withdraw a single word that I have said

Lim Kit Siang calls for the withdrawal of the Fama’s proposed Fish Marketing Scheme

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary and Parliamentary Candidate for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the 5th DAP Public Rally at Tranquerah (Former Volunteer H.Q.) on Sunday, 20th April 1969 at 9p.m.:

Senator Ghaffar Baba has drawn up a master plan to disrupt the fish trade in West Malaysia, break the rice bowl of fish wholesalers, retailers and the fishermen, and raise the price of fish for the consumers.

This Federal Fish Marketing Scheme will be implemented after the May 10 General Elections, and will cause grave hardship to tens of thousands of fish-sellers, including their families.

Clauses 10 of the FAMA scheme provided that every fish-seller or retailer must possess a licence issued by the Fish Marketing Board, which will cost $10 a year. No one is allowed to sell fish without a license, or he will be fined $500. FAMA authorities said there are 3,685 licensed fish retailers in the country at the moment.

Firstly, what assurance is there at all these 3,695 licensed retailers will be granted licensed by Senator Ghaffar Baba, when they come up for renewal every year? Continue reading Lim Kit Siang calls for the withdrawal of the Fama’s proposed Fish Marketing Scheme

Merdeka University Six Questions for Tun Tan Siew Sin

Press Statement by DAP Organising Secretary and Parliamentary Candidate for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, on 19th April 1969.

Today, the MCA Elections Committee issued a statement declaring that the MCA and Tun Tan Siew Sin do not oppose the Merdeka University, and that they do not oppose any affect by the people to set up a University.

Then I want Tun Tan Siew Sin to answer the following six question:

1. Why did Tun Tan Siew Sin warn all MCA members and officials last December that they will be expelled from the MCA if they help in the Merdeka University project.
2. Why did Tun Tan Siew Sin refuse to support the registration of the Merdeka University by the government.
3. Why did Tun Tan Siew Sin instruct his Political Secretary, Mr. Bernard Lu, to announce in Sarawak last month that the Alliance government will never permit the registration of the Merdeka University.
4. Why did Tun Tan Siew Sin instruct the Malacca State Authorities to ban hawkers from launching donation sales campaign in aid of Merdeka University?
5. Why did Tun Tan Siew Sin show so much contempt for the efforts of hawkers, fishermen, teachers, workers, hair-dressers, trishaw riders, without his support and other millionaires like him, the Merdeka University will fail in the next 10 years.
6. Why did Tun Tan Siew Sin say a few days ago that establishing the Merdeka University is like expecting ‘an iron tree to produce flowers’ betraying his disapproval and contempt for the project.

Continue reading Merdeka University Six Questions for Tun Tan Siew Sin

ACA: deal with corruption cases without political fear or favour

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary and Parliamentary Candidate for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP Public Rally at Ulu Yam Bahru, Ulu Selangor Parliamentary Constituency, on 19th April 1969 at 10p.m.:

DAP wants the present toothless Anti-Corruption Agency to be given untrammeled powers to deal with corruption cases without political fear or favour

The Anti-Corruption Agency was set up by the Alliance Government in anticipation of the general elections campaign of opposition in Malaysian public life.

However, the ACA is a toothless organization without real powers to deal with corruption cases involving high Alliance leaders. The DAP wants the Anti-Corruption Agency to have untrammeled powers to deal with every corruption case, without political fear or favour.

The Anti-Corruption Agency should be an independent department, and not part of the Ministry of Home Affairs. It should only be answerable to Parliament, so that no politician or Minister could exert pressure or influence over it, like the Audit Department for instance, which is answerable only to Parliament.

Unless the Alliance government arms the Anti-Corruption Agency with genuine powers, no one will believe that the Alliance government is sincere in wanting to stamp out corruption. Continue reading ACA: deal with corruption cases without political fear or favour

Two questions for Mr Lew Sip Hon

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary and Parliamentary Candidate for Bandar Malacca, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP public rally Rodgers Street, Kuala Lumpur on 19-4-69:

While posing as the new MCA champion of the Chinese language and Education in Malaysia, the Alliance candidate, Mr. Lew Sip Hon, has studiously evaded foundamental issues and question concerning Chinese Languages and Education.
Mr. Lew had boasted that the Maju Ward had the brain power to match the brains in the DAP, but when he is asked to an open confrontation of ideas, he has always run away – like his mentor Inche Khir Johari. If Mr. Lew Sip Hon continues to run away from foundamental issues he should change the name of the MCA Maju Ward to MCA Malu Ward.

Tonight I want to ask Mr. Lew Sip Hon two questions, one on the Abdul Rahman Talib Education report, and the other on Merdeka University. I hope this time, he does not run away from the issues again.

1. Abdul Rahman Talib Report

I want to know whether Mr. Lew Sip Hon accept and support Mr. Koh Kim Leng’s Abdul Rahman Talib Education report, which is the Alliance Master Plan to destroy Chinese, English and Tamil Education in Malaysia.
Continue reading Two questions for Mr Lew Sip Hon

The DAP is not an anti-Malay party: It is a pro-Malaysian party

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary and Parliamentary Candidate for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP Public Rally at Bukit Rambai on April 18, 1969 at 10 p.m.

The DAP is not an anti-Malay party: It is a pro-Malaysian party

The Alliance and the MCA used to accuse the DAP of being anti-Malay because they claim we dare not contest in predominantly Malay constituency.

But in this general elections, we are contesting in several predominantly Malay constituencies, one of which is Bukit Rambai State Constituency in Malacca. This thoroughly exposes the mischief and malice of Alliance and MCA accusations.

What shocks me is that Tun Tan Siew Sin, the MCA President, should condemn the DAP for Contesting in a predominantly Malay constituency. Tun Tan said the DAP should not have fielded a candidate. Continue reading The DAP is not an anti-Malay party: It is a pro-Malaysian party

Lim Kit Siang wants every MCA Candidate to make his stand on Lew Sip Hon’s Aziz Commission Report

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary and Parliamentary Candidate for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP Public Rally in Muar on Friday, 18th April 1969 at 8p.m.

Lim Kit Siang wants every MCA Candidate to make his stand on Lew Sip Hon’s Aziz Commission Report and declare what are the recommendations they consider as unreasonable, and for which they are prepared to resign from MCA if implemented.

MCA Candidates everywhere are saying that if there are recommendations in Lew Sip Hon’s Aziz Commission Report which are unfair and detrimental to Chinese education and teachers, the Alliance government will not implement them. But the voters of Malaysia cannot be so easily fooled and deceived by the MCA candidates.

If the MCA Candidates are sincere in the above statement, then I want every MCA Candidate to let the Malaysian public know what each of them think are the unreasonable provisions in what each of them think are the unreasonable provisions in Lew Sip Hon’s Aziz Commission Report which the Alliance Government will not implement, or if the government implements, for which they are prepared to resign from the MCA in protest. Continue reading Lim Kit Siang wants every MCA Candidate to make his stand on Lew Sip Hon’s Aziz Commission Report

The DAP is not an anti-Malay party: it is a pro-Malaysian party

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary and Parliamentary Candidate for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP Public Rally at Bukit Rambai on April 18, 1969 at 10 p.m.:

The Alliance and the MCA used to accuse the DAP of being anti-Malay because they claim we dare not contest in predominantly Malay constituency.

But in this general elections, we are contesting in several predominantly Malay constituencies, one of which is Bukit Rambai State Constituency in Malacca. This thoroughly exposes the mischief and malice of Alliance and MCA accusations.
What shocks me is that Tun Tan Siew Sin, the MCA President, should condemn the DAP for Contesting in a predominantly Malay constituency. Tun Tan said the DAP should not have fielded a candidate.

If Tun Tan Siew Sin is right, then he himself should never have run away from Bandar Melaka Parliamentary constituency to Melaka Tengah Parliamentary constituency, and rely on UMNO’s Malay votes to get him elected. Tun Tan should fight in Bandar Melaka, the town of his birth, and let the voters of Bandar Melaka decide whether his own claim is true, that he is the leader of Malaysian Chinese.

But Tun Tan Siew Sin dares not to do this, because he knows very well that if he had contested in Bandar Melaka Parliamentary constituency, he would not be able to retain his deposit even. Continue reading The DAP is not an anti-Malay party: it is a pro-Malaysian party

Malaysian Chinese may lose their citizenship if they vote the opposition party?

Statement by DAP Organising Secretary and Parliamentary Candidate for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, on 18th April 1969:

Lim Kit Siang condemns Mr. Koh Kim Leng for declaring that the Malaysian Chinese may lose their citizenship if they vote the opposition party

My attention has just been drawn to a speech by the Alliance Candidate for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Koh Kim Leng, at an Alliance public rally at Hereen Street on 14th April 1969.

Mr. Koh said that if the people vote for the opposition party, then the Chinese may lose their citizenship in Malaysia. Mr. Koh Kim Leng went on to warn the Chinese that they must realize who have controls and posses the guns and knives, implying that it is the Malays who have the military power in the country.

I condemn in the strongest possible terms such irresponsible statement by an irresponsible politician. It is a downright threat to Malaysian Chinese in Malacca that if they do not vote for him and his MCA colleagues elsewhere, the Chinese will lose their citizenship and may even be slaughtered by the Malays. Continue reading Malaysian Chinese may lose their citizenship if they vote the opposition party?

Will the 8,000-odd primary school teachers in English-medium primary schools be dismissed?

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary and Parliamentary Candidate for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP Public Rally in Segamat Town on Thursday, 17th April 1969 at 9p.m:

Will the 8,000-odd primary school teachers in English-medium primary schools be dismissed following the implementation of the Abdul Rahman Talib Report to close down all non-Malay schools by 1971?

As provided by the Abdul Rahman Talib Education Report, the Alliance blueprint to close down English, Chinese and Tamil schools, the Alliance has decided to mass convert all English-media primary schools into Malay-medium primary schools by 1971.

The Alliance government has already started this process of forced conversion of English-medium primary schools into Malay schools, although very few parents know about this.

Beginning this year, four subjects in Standard III in English-media primary schools are taught in the Malay language: arts and craft, civics, physical education and singing and music. Continue reading Will the 8,000-odd primary school teachers in English-medium primary schools be dismissed?