Author: Curator

Malaysia Chinese must exercise their political rights if they are not to be aliens in the land of their birth

Speech by Ketua Pembangkang and DAP Secretary-General, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP seminar organized by the Chinese education sub-committee held at Perak DAP State premises at Jalan Kampar, Ipoh, on Sunday, 7th Oct. 1973 at 10 a.m.

Malaysia Chinese must exercise their political rights if they are not to be aliens in the land of their birth

At a MCA party function on Sept. 18, the Selangor MCA Chairman, Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew, said that “directly and indirectly, the Chinese in Malaysia had received several blows making them feel psychologically that they are second-class citizens.”

There is no better remark that this to sum up the result of twenty years’ of MCA political activity. This explains why the MCA is held in such utter discredit and contempt among the masses.

Only last Sunday, we read in the press of a MCA Senator and new Deputy Minister, in Sitiawan calling on the Malaysian Chinese to unite behind the MCA so that the “Chinese are represented with one voice” inside the government.

This argument, which sounded attractive superficially, is not a new one. In fact, other people, only more recently more in the limelight than him, had made the same calls and have ended up being expelled from the MCA. This Senator’s own promotion to be Deputy Minister is a reward for his defecting from the ranks of his former colleagues, and siding the right group at a critical time. In fact, it would be pertinent to ask this Senator Deputy Minister, how much is ‘Chinese Unity’ worth against a Deputy Ministership. Continue reading Malaysia Chinese must exercise their political rights if they are not to be aliens in the land of their birth

Three Proposals to fight galloping inflation in Malaysia

Speech by Ketua Pembangkang and DAP Secretary-General, Mr. Lim Kit Siang at the 7th Anniversary Dinner of the Perak DAP held at the St. John’s Ambulance Hall, Ipoh, on Saturday, 6th October, 1973 at 9.00 p.m.

Three Proposals to fight galloping inflation in Malaysia

In the last 2 years, inflation has become the most outstanding problem for the people of Malaysia.

Price increases of all goods keep chasing one after another, some shooting up by more than 100% increase, while the purchasing power of the Malaysian dollar in the hands of the housewives and consumers continue to fall.

Inflation is highly inequitable and unjust as it bears heavily on those getting low and fixed incomes, thus widening the gap between the haves and have-notes.

It is regrettable but true that for the last 2 years, the Alliance Government has failed to work out an effective strategy to fight inflation. The Alliance Government appeared to be completely helpless in the face of rising prices for all consumer products. In actual fact, it will be more correct to say that the Alliance Government does not have the will or determination to combat inflation. This is because while the majority of the people suffer from price inflation, there is a tiny minority which makes huge “windfall” profits from it. And it is this tiny minority of people who have traditionally formed the financial backbone of the ruling party. Continue reading Three Proposals to fight galloping inflation in Malaysia

DAP Calls for a new National and State Land Policy to give land to the landless

Speech by Opposition leader and DAP Secretary-General, Mr. Lim Kit Siang to members and supporters at Tanjong Rambutan, Perak, on Friday, 5th October, 1973, at 8 p.m. during the formation of the DAP Tanjong Rambutan Protem Committee

DAP Calls for a new National and State Land Policy to give land to the landless

Malaysia is primarily an agricultural country, and we are still rich in undeveloped land resources. According to one official estimate, there are still 30000000 acres of land suitable for development in Malaysia.

We should make full use of our land resources to improve the lot of the poor. Unfortunately, the Alliance policy is not very different from the old colonial policy which uses land as an instrument to benefit the landed interests and the foreign and local monopoly capitalist class – which the mass of the poor are left destitute and landless.

The authorities concerned have no second thoughts about alienating hundreds and even thousands of acres of land each to the genuine landless, all sorts of noble reasons are found against it. Continue reading DAP Calls for a new National and State Land Policy to give land to the landless

Malacca Hospital deaths – Investigating Committee should stop all procrastinations and delays

Opposition Leader and DAP Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, today issued the following statement (2.10.1973):

Lim Kit Siang wants Health Minister to impress on the Malacca Hospital deaths Investigating Committee a sense of urgency and stop all procrastinations and delays

I have today written to the Minister of Health, Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew, asking him to impress on the Investigation Committee into the Malacca Hospital deaths in July and August with a sense of urgency, and that it should not procrastinate or delay its inquiry and findings.

The Investigation Committee first met in Malacca General Hospital on Sept. 10, 11 and 12, and postponed proceedings for two weeks till Sept. 27. The Sept. 27 resumption was later postponed till Oct. 1, which has now been further postponed to an indefinite date.

Such delays and protracted postponements can only strengthen public reservations and doubts about the sincerity of the Ministry of Health to get to the truth about the 110 deaths in the Malacca Hospital from July 21 to August 20, when the hospital’s autoclave ceased to operate.

In my letter to the Health Minister, I wrote: Continue reading Malacca Hospital deaths – Investigating Committee should stop all procrastinations and delays

Racial imbalance in the recruitment of nurses and assistant nurses

Speech by Ketua Pembangkang and DAP Secretary-General Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP Public Rally at Port Dickson on Saturday, 29th Sept. 1973 at 9 p.m.

Two proposals for the rectification of racial imbalance in the recruitment of nurses and assistant nurses by Public Services Commission

Two weeks ago, the Health Minister, Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew, expressed his unhappiness over the present nurses recruitment exercises because the recent intake does not reflect the racial composition in the country.

This led to a public clarification by the Public Services Commission Chairman, Tan Sri Sheikh Abdullah bin Sheikh Abu Bakar, who asserted with facts and figures that “it has always been the policy as well as the practice of this Commission to be as fair and as just, as is humanly possible, to all candidates regardless of race and religion: and wherever possible to reflect the multi-racial character of the country in the public service.”

Tan Sri Sheikh Abdullah slanted the figures to support his statement, although in actual fact, the figures clearly showed that the Public Services Commission had not reflected the multi-racial character of the country in its recruitment exercises into the public service. Continue reading Racial imbalance in the recruitment of nurses and assistant nurses

DAP wants the LPN to give a solemn promise that all the 20000 rice dealers will have their licence renewed

DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, today issued the following statement (27.9.1973):

DAP wants the LPN to give a solemn promise that all the 20000 rice dealers will have their licence renewed and not a single person will suffer cancellation of licence

On Monday, I warned the large numbers of 20000 rice licences which expire in a few days, on 30th September, have not been renewed, and that this could disrupt the rice trade and create an even worse rice crisis in the country.

We read in the press today that an unnamed Selangor MCA spokesman proudly claimed that as a result of the energetic representation of the Selangor MCA, the LPN has agreed to an extension of the dateline for the renewal of rice licences. The rice dealers in the country were told to be calm and not to be worried.

The DAP would like to know why the Selangor MCA is helping the LPN to cover-up its incompetence and inefficiency in performing a simple routine job of renewing the rice licences, especially as these applications were sent in three or four months back.

The DAP deplores the LPN failure to renew the rice licences in time by 30th September. It is even now at this late hour, possible to take swift administrative action to have all the licences renewed by 30th September. Continue reading DAP wants the LPN to give a solemn promise that all the 20000 rice dealers will have their licence renewed

A fresh case of Malacca Hospital negligence

Statement by DAP Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, MR. Lim Kit Siang, at a press conference in Malacca Office, 33A Jalan Munshi Abdullah, on Tuesday, 25th Sept. 1973

A fresh case of Malacca Hospital negligence where a two-year-old boy was admitted on Sept. 2 night and not attended to by any doctor for 12 hours, and died 15 hours after admission

I have received a complaint fro Madam Tan Leong from Kota Timor that her two-year-old son was admitted into the Malacca General Hospital on the night of 2.9.1973, and was not attended to by any doctor for 12 hours, and died 15 hours after admission.

Mdm. Tan Leong’s two-year-old son, Kua Tai Hock, was having fever for one week, and had been receiving outpatient treatment from the Malacca General Hospital. Kua Tai Hock had difficulty in breathing sweating and had cold hands and feet.

On Sept. 2, Madam Tan Leong took the boy to the Casualty department of the Malacca General Hospital as the boy was very ill. Kua TaiHock was seen by a doctor at about 10.15 p.m., after which he was given outpatient treatment again. The doctor did not admit Tai Hock. Continue reading A fresh case of Malacca Hospital negligence

LPN should reorganize itself to eliminate maladministration, inefficiency, bungling, corruption and bureaucratism

Ketua Pembangkang and DAP Secretary-General, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, today issued the following statement (24.9.1973):

LPN should reorganize itself to eliminate maladministration, inefficiency, bungling, corruption and bureaucratism

On Saturday, 22nd Sept., while I was motoring up to Penang to attend the 7th Anniversary Dinner of the Penang DAP, I experienced first hand how stupidly, without imagination whatsoever, the authorities are trying to cope with the second rice crisis this year.

Leaving Bagan Serai and the Perak State Border, and coming to the Sungai Krian Bridge, there was a roadblock and check, presumably to prevent the people of Perak from smuggling rice into Penang.

Having passed the roadblock and crossed the Sungai Krian Bridge, there was another roadblock, this time presumably to prevent the people of Penang from smuggling rice into Perak.

The distance between the two roadblocks is hardly 100 feet, separated only by the Sungai Frin Bridge. Continue reading LPN should reorganize itself to eliminate maladministration, inefficiency, bungling, corruption and bureaucratism

Establish a Ministry to specially look after the socio-economic, educational, and cultural needs of the estate workers

Speech by DAP Secretary General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the re-election of the Perak DAP Estates Sub-Committee held at IPOH on 23rd. September, 1973 at 1.30 p.m.

DAP Calls on NUPW branches to pass resolutions urging the Government to establish a Ministry to specially look after the socio-economic, educational, and cultural needs of the estate workers

I read with interest the resolutions passed by the 4th Malacca NUPW State Division General Meeting held in Malacca last Sunday.

The seven resolutions highlighted the socio-economic and educational problems faced by estate workers and their dependants throughout the country.

For over two decades, the socio-economic, educational and cultural needs of the estate workers have been neglected by the Government.

Recent government and private studies have all come to one conclusion: that the estate workers have lagged behind other Malaysians in economic sectors, whether in the social, economic or educational field. Continue reading Establish a Ministry to specially look after the socio-economic, educational, and cultural needs of the estate workers

DAP wants the LPN and Government to tell the people the full facts about the rise situation in the country

Speech by Ketua Pembangkang, DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the Seventh Penang DAP Anniversary Dinner held at Fortune Restaurant on Saturday, 22nd Sept. 1973 at 9 p.m.

To counter soaring prices, DAP calls on government to (a) make immediate payment of a COLA of 40% of salary to all low-paid government employees; and (ii) issue a Cabinet guideline to all private employers to make a similar 40% COLA payment to their employees

For over a year, there has been continuous and rapid rise in prices accompanied by continuous fall in the purchasing power of the Malaysian dollar, bringing acute sufferings and hardships to the majority of Malaysians who have low or fixed incomes.

The consumers and the poor have been made to bear the full brunt of the inflation, with the rich getting away scot-free. All the price increases, whether stemming from imported or domestic inflation, price-fixing by cartels and monopoly enterprises, artificial manipulation of the market, or from the government’s highly inflationary fiscal policies such as the Sales Tax, are simply passed on to the final consumers.

Under the present free enterprise system, it is easy for capitalists to insist and maintain their huge profit margins before the inflation. In facts, there are even capitalists who take this opportunity of inflation and confusion to inflate their huge profit margins. Thus, last month, the Finance Minister, Tun Tan Siew Sin, admitted that one of the major causes of inflation was that some importers make profits of 100 per cent or more.
Continue reading DAP wants the LPN and Government to tell the people the full facts about the rise situation in the country