Author: Curator

Ensure all leave and transfers for officers and staff in Malacca Hospital be stopped is adhered to

DAP Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka and Party Secretary- General, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, today issued the following statement – 21.9.1973: (Mr. Lim is also advisor to the Committee of Families of Deceased at Malacca Hospital from July 21 to August 20)

Lim Kit Siang urges Minister of Health, Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew, to: (1) ensure that his order that all leave and transfers for officers and staff in Malacca Hospital be stopped is adhered to strictly until end of Malacca Hospital deaths inquiry; (2) issue a directive to Malacca Hospital authorities to stop their witch-hunt campaign

I have written to the Health Minister, Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew, urging him to ensure that his order that all leave and transfers for officers and staff in Malacca Hospital be stopped until the end of the inquiry into the unusual Malacca Hospital deaths be obeyed strictly, as it has come to my knowledge that some officers are finalising preparations to go abroad.

I have also asked Tan Sri Lee to issue a directive to the Malacca Hospital authorities to end a witch-hunt campaign among the hospital staff.

In my letter to Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew, I said: Continue reading Ensure all leave and transfers for officers and staff in Malacca Hospital be stopped is adhered to

Demarcate international waters in the Straits of Malacca to enable Malaysian fishermen to pursue their livelihood in the spirit of ASEAN fraternity and solidarity

Statement by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a press conference at 33A Jalan Munshi Abdullah, Malacca on Wednesday, 19th Sept. 1973 at 10.45 a.m.

Lim Kit Siang calls on the Ministry of Fisheries and Foreign Ministry to have urgent discussion with Indonesian authorities to demarcate the international waters in the Straits of Malacca and to make arrangements to enable Malacca and other Malaysian fishermen to pursue their livelihood in the spirit of ASEAN fraternity and solidarity

I have called this press conference to bring to the attention of the government and public the plight, suffering and hardship of the 600 Malacca fishermen of all races who for the past one month had not dared to go out to fish in international waters in the Straits of Malacca.

This followed the disappearance of 22 Malacca fishing boats in the high sea a month ago. It was subsequently reported in the press that the five boats had returned after paying ransom money of $3000 each. There are still 17 boats in detention, and which have not returned.

In the past, the ransom money per boat had been only a few hundred dollars. Then it began to rise, and recently it was in the region of $1000. Now, it is $3000. Continue reading Demarcate international waters in the Straits of Malacca to enable Malaysian fishermen to pursue their livelihood in the spirit of ASEAN fraternity and solidarity

Minister of Health should assert his authority and show that he is master in his own Ministry

Speech by Ketua Pembangkang, DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP Public Rally at Bandar Hilir Padang, Malacca, on Sunday, 16th Sept. 1973 at 9.30 p.m.

Minister of Health, Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew, should assert his authority and show that he is master in his own Ministry and not a puppet of Malacca Hospital authorities

Since my first press conference on August 22 making public the unusual number of Malacca Hospital deaths and calling for a Public Commission of Inquiry into the negligence and maladministration of the Malacca Hospital which made such deaths possible, the Minister of Health, Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew, has established an investigation committee and promised that if there is any finding of negligence or carelessness on the part of anyone, disciplinary or other action would be taken.

From our investigations, it is clear that the Minister of health, Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew, had been misled by the Malacca Hospital authorities time and again into making public statements which are not borne out by facts.

It is a serious and sorry state of affairs that the Minister of Health, the head of his Ministry, should be consistently misled and misinformed by his own subordinates into making untrue public statements.

I will tonight give three instances to justify my statement. Continue reading Minister of Health should assert his authority and show that he is master in his own Ministry

Investigation Committee into the Malacca Hospital deaths should complete its work without postponement

DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Melaka Bandar, Mr. Lim Kit Siang today issued the following statement (13.9.1973):

Lim Kit Siang wants the Investigation Committee into the Malacca Hospital deaths to sit at a stretch until final completion of its inquiry without postponement or adjournment

The six-man Ministry of Health Investigation Committee into the unusual number or deaths in the Malacca Hospital in July and August during the break-down of the autoclave has adjourned after three days, of preliminary inquiry.

The Committee is to resume for another three days, about two weeks later at the end of September.

The Investigation Committee has an onerous duty, for it is not only to inquire into the real cause of the unusually high number of deaths in the Malacca Hospital during July and August. It has the further responsibility of convincing the people of Malacca that there is competent hospital administration to restore their confidence in the Malacca Hospital as a fit and proper place to entrust the lives and health of their loved ones. Continue reading Investigation Committee into the Malacca Hospital deaths should complete its work without postponement

Malacca fishermen are victims of high-sea piracy and kidnapping

Press Statement by Mr. Lim Kit Siang, DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka on 12 September 1973:

Lim Kit Siang Calls on the Malacca Acting Chief Minister, Dato Tan Chang Swee to take a personal interest in the sufferings of the Malacca fishermen who are victims of high-sea piracy and kidnapping

The Malacca Acting Chief Minister Dato Tan Cheng Swee said yesterday that families of the missing fishermen in Malacca should report to the police so that the Foreign Ministry could take up with the Indonesian Authorities on the disappearance of 60 Malaysian fishermen and their fishing boats.

Dato Tab Cheng Swee also expressed sympathy for the affected families and suggested that they quickly make their report to the police so that the Central Government can take up the matter through the proper foreign channel.

This is the first time after close to a month since the disappearance of the 60 Malacca fishermen that Dato Tan Cheng Swee has expresses his concern, although he was aware of it right from the beginning. Continue reading Malacca fishermen are victims of high-sea piracy and kidnapping

DAP proposes residential schools by the government to cater for children of estate workers

Message by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr.Lim Kit Siang, for the one-day seminar on the problems of estate labourers organized by the DAP Selangor State Estates Sub-Committee held at Klang DAP Branch on Sunday, 9th Sept. 1973 at 9 a.m.

DAP proposes the establishment of residential schools by the government to specially cater for children of estate workers

The Ministry of Education’s Murad Report on School Drop-outs made the following pertinent findings:

1. “The drop-out rate within the primary school years is substantially higher for Indians than the other two groups, more Indian youths drop out during their primary school years than do Malay or Chinese youths.” (p.19)

2. “For Indian youths, the finding of this study shows that they have, on the average, the lowest socio-economic status of the three communities and have a lower motivation than the Malays. As a result the rates of enrolment among Indians, for both age groups, are significantly lower than those of Malays and Chinese.” (p.26)
Continue reading DAP proposes residential schools by the government to cater for children of estate workers

Protect Malaysian fishermen in the Straits of Malacca from armed, uniformed naval piracy

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a Public Rally at Batu Berendam, Malacca on Saturday, 8th Sept. 1973 at 9 p.m

DAP calls on the Malaysian Government to protect Malaysian fishermen in the Straits of Malacca from armed, uniformed naval piracy in international waters

In the last one month, we read in the press that the Malacca fishermen were victims of two cases of piracy in international waters in the Straits of Malacca. In the first piracy, five vessels were involved, while in the second case, 19 vessels were involved.

The fishing boats, gear, catches and other properties were seized and detained along with the fishermen, until they were ransomed with solid cash. It is reported that the ransom money paid for the release for each vessel is $3000, which works out to a total ransom money of over $70000 for the 24 vessels robbed and fishermen kidnapped. I have received complaints that during the period of detention, awaiting release on payment of ransom money, the Malaysian fishermen were ill-treated.

That the Malaysian fishermen from Malacca and other coastal areas along the Straits of Malacca have been the constant victims of high-sea piracy is a well-know fact to the people and government. That these high-sea pirates are armed, uniformed naval personnel from Indonesia in naval gunboats is not only a public knowledge, but has been admitted by the late Tun Dr. Ismail when I questioned him on the question in the August session of Parliament last year. Continue reading Protect Malaysian fishermen in the Straits of Malacca from armed, uniformed naval piracy

Malacca hospital deaths – formation of Committee of Deceased Families

Statement by DAP Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Kim Kiat Siang, at a Press Conference at 33A, Jalan Munshi Abdullah, Melaka, on Friday, 7th September, 1973 at 11 a.m.

Two pre-conditions for a satisfactory inquiry

This is my second press conference on the Malacca Hospital deaths arising from the breakdown of the hospital’s autoclave (sterilization plant).

Since my first press conference on August 22 making public the unusual number of Malacca Hospital deaths and calling for a Public Commission of Inquiry into the negligence and maladministration of the Malacca Hospital which made such deaths possible, the Minister of Health, Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew, has established an investigation committee and promised that if there is any finding of negligence or carelessness on the part of anyone, disciplinary or other action would be taken.

I am not fully satisfied with the formation of the investigation committee because (i) the proceedings will be in secret, away from public gaze; and (ii) the absence of completely independent or unbiased members, as a representative from the Opposition or a foreign medical expert. Continue reading Malacca hospital deaths – formation of Committee of Deceased Families

Malacca hospital deaths inquiry: ensure hospital subordinate officers and staff feel free and unrestrained to give full, truthful testimony

DAP Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, today issued the following statement (5.9.1973):

Malacca hospital deaths inquiry: DAP calls on Minister of Health to take necessary action to ensure that hospital subordinate officers and staff will feel free and unrestrained to give full, truthful testimony without fear of alienating superior officers

I welcome the assurance given by the Minister of Health, Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew, that if the investigation committee into the Malacca hospital deaths during the breakdown of the autoclave (sterilization plant) found negligence or carelessness on the part of anyone, disciplinary or other action would be taken.

However, the public must be convinced that there is going to be a thorough, comprehensive and unfettered inquiry into the unusual number of deaths in the Malacca General Hospital. The investigation committee appointed by the Health Minister is headed by the Ministry’s Secretary-General, Encik Abdul Majid Yusof, and comprise Prof. Lau Kam Seng of the University of Malaya, Prof. Francis Morasingh of the Universiti Sains, Penang, Dr.Lim Teong Wah of the Institute of Medical Research, Dr. G.G. Lopes, Director of the National Blood Bank and Dr. Ezaddin bin Mohamed of the Ministry of Health.

To the members of the public, the six-member committee are all directly or indirectly associated with the Ministry of Health or the government. What is lacking is the inclusion of members who are completely independent and unassociated with the government in any way. Continue reading Malacca hospital deaths inquiry: ensure hospital subordinate officers and staff feel free and unrestrained to give full, truthful testimony

DAP calls for full diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr.Lim Kit Siang, at the National Day and anniversary reception of Muar DAP Branch in Muar on Sunday, 2nd September 1973 at 2p.m

DAP calls on Tun Razak to act bravely and decisively by forthwith establishing full diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China

Although in the last two years, there has been some increase in limited contacts between Malaysia and the People’s Republic of China in the fields of trade and sports, Malaysia is still a long way off from the full normalization of relations between Kuala Lumpur and Peking.

In his Hari Kebangsaan message, the Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak said Malaysia was waiting for the right time for the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. This was the Alliance government’s position in the previous years as well. It is highly regrettable that there has not been distinct progress make in this direction.

During the nineteen fifties and sixties, Malaysia looked at foreign affairs through American spectacles, and she was even persuaded to regard herself as one of the American led crusaders against the Communists Chinese government.
Continue reading DAP calls for full diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China