Author: Curator

Contemptible Parliamentary Tactics

Contemptible Parliamentary Tactics

West Malaysian Members of Parliament were informed today tat their notices of questions for oral and written answers and motions submitted in the English language have been rejected.

In a letter to MPs today, the clerk to the Dewan Ra’ayat, Inche Ahmad bin Abdullah, said these notices must be in Bahasa Malaysia in
accordance with the provisions of the National Language Act, 1967.

The National Language Act, 1967 does not prohibit MPs from submitting notices of questions and motions in English.

In fact, MPs had good reasons to believe that English could be used in notices of question and motions. Continue reading Contemptible Parliamentary Tactics

Letter to Secretary of Dewan Rakyat – Notice of Motions

Lim Kit Siang
77, Road 20/9,
Paramount Garden,
Petaling Jaya.
5th Feb, 1971

Setia Usaha,
Dewan Ra’ayat,
Parliamen.

Tuan,

Notice of Motions

I hereby give notice of two motions which I propose moving in the Dewn Ra’ayat beginning Feb.22, 1971.

Motion One: that this House calls on the Government to institute an independent commission of inquiry to require into the true causes of the May 13 racial riots and its spread, and to draw the correct lessons from this national tragedy, and to make recommendations to the people and government on ways and means to prevent such a recurrence.

Motion Two: that this House (i) AFFIRMS that parliamentary democracy is the most suitable form of political system for a multi-racial, multi-cultural, multi-lingual and multi-religious nation like Malaysia; Continue reading Letter to Secretary of Dewan Rakyat – Notice of Motions

The new labour amendments

The new labour amendments

The government’s amendments to the Emergency labour laws are a big farce. Under these amendments, the right and lot of the workers of Malaysia are even worse off than before the May 13 Emergency.

After May 13 Emergency, the Alliance Government passed sweeping restrictive labour laws to cripple the cause of labour. Such measures include:

1. Prohibition of trade union officials from holding office in political parties;

2. Denial of the right of dismissed employees to union representation and industrial action; and

3. Prohibiton of public sector employees from federating with private-sector workers.

The latest labour amendments leave these three restrictive measures intact. Continue reading The new labour amendments

Government White Paper on Towards National Harmony

The Government White Paper

The Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak, told the joint opening session of the UMNO Kaumn Ibu and UMNO Youth that Malaysia can revert to democratic rule only after Parliament passes amendments to Constitution relating to sensitive issues set out in the Government White Paper, titled “Towards National Harmony.”

The DAP strongly objects to this political blackmail. The government’s proposals should be tabled in Parliament and debated, without any Sword of Damocles hanging over the heads of MPs that they will all be sent home and Parliament dissolved if they do not do as they are told.

The White Paper stated that “Parliament is after all the trustees for the peoples of Malaysia; the guardians of the nation’s heritage and hopes.”

If the government sincerely believes in what it states in the White Paper, then it would not blackmail Parliament in this undemocratic and unparliamentary fashion. Continue reading Government White Paper on Towards National Harmony

Unconditional release appeal for Inche Dzulkifli Ismail

Unconditional release appeal for Inche Dzulkifli Ismail

Last Saturday, 9th January 1971, I sent the following letter to the Minister of Home Affairs, Tun Dr.Ismail bin Dato Abdul Rahman, urging the unconditional release of State Assemblyman for Ulu Kuantan, Pahang, Inche Dzulkifli Ismail:

“Yang Berhormat

Tun (Dr.) Ismail bin Dato Abdul Rahman

Menteri Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri,

Malaysia,

Kuala Lumpur.

Sir,

Appeal for unconditional release of Inche Dzulkifli Ismail

I wish to join the appeal made by Che Norlia Hassan, wife of Inche Dzulkifli Ismail, State Assemblyman for Ulu Kuantan, Pahang, on 1st January 1971 for her husband’s unconditional release from detention in Batu Gajah under the Internal Security Act. Continue reading Unconditional release appeal for Inche Dzulkifli Ismail

Dato Harun Idris’ suggesting to postpone reconvening of Parliament and State Assemblies

Dato Harun Idris’ suggesting to postpone reconvening of Parliament and State Assemblies

We are shocked by Dato Harun bin Idris’ suggestion (Utusan Melayu 9.1.71) that the reconvening of Parliemant on February 22 and the resummoning of the State Assemblies should be postponed indefinitely because of the present national flood situation.

The reason given by Dato Harun is that this will allow all national and state authorities to concentrate their energies in the relief and rehabilitation work of the flood victims.

The DAP cannot support such a suggestion. Parliament is not a luxury, but a necessity for a multi-racial nation like Malaysia. Its greatest use is not during time of peace, calm and prosperity, but during a time of stress and crisis. Continue reading Dato Harun Idris’ suggesting to postpone reconvening of Parliament and State Assemblies

National Floods-Relief and Rehabilitation

National Floods-Relief and Rehabilitation

The greatest and most urgent task today is the relief and rehabilitation of hundreds of thousands of flood victims throughout the country.

Although the government has set up a Flood Relief and Rehabilitation Committee under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak, we still do not know how the government proposes to help and rehabilitate the hundreds and thousands of flood victims.

This is a matter of the greatest urgency. Those victims who have lost their houses, entire personal belongings and means of livelihood, cannot wait for weeks while the National Flood Relief and Rehabilitation Committee take their time to meet, minute and decide on what to do about the hunger, privation and cold of hundreds of thousands of Malaysians.

An immediate plan must be executed to alleviate the suffering of the flood victims. Continue reading National Floods-Relief and Rehabilitation

DAP to ASSSIT IN FLOOD RELIEF WORK

DAP to ASSSIT IN FLOOD RELIEF WORK

All DAP Members of Parliament, State Assemblymen, officials and members throughout the country have been instructed to assist in the flood evacuation, relief and rehabilition work.

All DAP Branches are available for use as flood evacuation and relief centres.

The DAP calls on the people of Malaysia to help generously all the flood evacuees at this moment of National Disaster and contribute cash, clothing, foodstuff to help the flood evacuees.

Opposition Parliament Leader

Opposition Parliament Leader

When DAP, PPP and SNAP leaders met in Kuala Lumpur early this month, the question of an Opposition Leader in Parliament was discussed. It was agreed by the three parties that the Opposition Parliament Leader should be rotated among the opposition parties represented in Parliament.

We must be very clear in our minds, however, as to the role and function of Opposition Parliament Leader.

With five opposition parties in Parliament, representing in some cases very divergent policies, it is clearly not possible to have an Opposition Leader who can be the Chief Spokesman for all opposition parties on all important national political, economic, educational, cultural and social issues and problems of the day. Continue reading Opposition Parliament Leader

The 1971 Budget

The 1971 Budget

Tun Tan Siew Sin’s new taxes, as in the case of all his previous budgets, are biased in favour of the haves and the rich, and weighted against the have-nots and the laboring class.

A good case in point is the doubling of the surtax on all imports from 2% to 4%.

Doubled Surtax

The blanket surtax increase for all imports will raise the cost of imports, such as imported foodstuffs, clothing, medicine, building materials such as locks, screws, steel bars, leading to an increased coast of living. For the lower income group, this will greatly add to their present hardships and difficulties. Continue reading The 1971 Budget