Author: Curator

Parliament, China & Budget 1971

Statement by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a press conference at DAP Kuala Lumpur Branch at 63-D Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur, on Wednesday, 4th Nov. 1970 at 3p.m.

Convening and Official Opening of Parliament

A local press (Nanyang Siang Pao) reported todat that the official installation of the new Yang di-Pertuan Agong will be held on February 20 next year, and not February 16 as previously announced.

According to this report, the reconvening of Parliament, previously announced as to be on February 17, is now of uncertain date. Continue reading Parliament, China & Budget 1971

China’s call for nuclear summit

China’s call for nuclear summit

China’s repeated call for a world nuclear summit conference to ban and destroy all nuclear weapons is indication of her interest to explore possibilities of world nuclear disarmament.

The fact that China, a nuclear power and the biggest country in the world with a quarter of mankind as her population, is barred membership from the United Nations is ample proof of the short-sighted and perverted foreign policy of the United States, the prime opponent to China’s entry to the U.N. Continue reading China’s call for nuclear summit

We have not become a nation of Malaysians

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the second anniversary dinner of the Pudu DAP Branch in Kuala Lumpur on Nov. 3, 1970 at 7.30p.m.

Although our country achieved independence in 1957, and is a member of the United Nations, recognised internationally as a separate political, legal and geographical entity, we have not become a nation of Malaysians.

Over the years, Malaysians have felt, thought and acted more as Malays, Chinese and Indians, rather than as Malaysians.

The blunt and tragic truth is that with the passing of years, more and more Malaysians are thinking less and less in Malaysian terms, and more and more in terms of their own race. Continue reading We have not become a nation of Malaysians

The 1971 Budget

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a reception given by DAP Bungsar Branch on Sunday, November 1, 1970 at 5p.m.

The 1971 Budget

The Finance Minister, Tun Tan Siew Sin, disclosed yesterday that the Budget for next year will be announced on Dec. 18, and indicated that like the previous year’s budget, will take the form of a National Operations Council presentation.

If Parliament is not allowed to debate and approve the 1971 Budgetary estimates of expenditure and taxation proposals, then it will have to wait until the end of 1972 before it could discharge its important duty to be the financial watchdog of the country over the government’s expenditures. Continue reading The 1971 Budget

Rule of Reason or the Rule of Force?

Speech by DAP Secretary-General, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the opening ceremony of the First National Seminar for DAP Members of Parliament and State Legislative Assemblymen at Hotel Mirama, Kuala Lumpur, on Saturday, 24th Oct. 1970 at 9 a.m.

Rule of Reason or the Rule of Force?

The great issue that is being fought out in Malaysia today is whether the rule of reason or the rule of force is going to prevail in our country.

The advocates of reason are wedged in on the one hand by ultra extremists who advocate an authoritarian rule by force and violence, and on the other hand, by communists who want to bring about a communist revolution. Continue reading Rule of Reason or the Rule of Force?

All party forum on Rukunegara

Statement by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a tea party given by Batu Pahat DAP at Chinese Chamber of Commerce building on Thursday, 22nd Oct. 1970 at 7p.m.

All party forum on Rukunegara

I have today sent out letters to all political parties in Malaysia inviting them to take part in an all-party forum on “How to make the Rukun Negara a more meaningful and effective instrument in the nation building of a united multi-racial Malaysian nation.”

The Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak, speaking as Director of Operations in a radio broadcast in Sarawak on 20th august 1969 said the national ideology would not be imposed on the nation but would be discussed by everybody before it was adopted. Continue reading All party forum on Rukunegara

All-party debate on Rukunegara

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and M.P. for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a reception given by Malacca DAP at Malacca Town Hall on Sunday, 18th Oct. 1970 at 11 a.m.

All-party debate on Rukunegara

In Penang last Wednesday, I suggested a public discussion and debate, including over radio and television, on Rukunegara.

For this suggestion, I was attacked and threatened by some quarters who regard such a proposal anti-national and criminal. It may be that to these people, the Sedition Act should cover the Rukunegara and all other issues where differences of views may arise between the government and the governed. Continue reading All-party debate on Rukunegara

Second Malaysia plan must play emphasis on job creation

SECOND MALAYSIA PLAN MUST LAY EMPHASIS ON JOB CREATION

As the Government is poised to launch the Second Malaysia five-year Plan, we in DAP cannot but feel concerned as to how this second five-year plan is to be formulated and where its emphasis lies.

As pointed out by our Deputy Secretary-General, Mr. Fan Yew Teng, it is only logical that before we decide to embark on the second five-year plan, we should examine the first plan to find out our shortcomings so that we can learn from our past mistakes.

For all that we know, the first five-year plan (1966-70) was a dismal failure in terms of job creation. It will be recalled that the first Malaysia Plan set a target of creating 92,500 jobs a year to reduce unemployment from 6 per cent to 5.2 percent of the labour. Continue reading Second Malaysia plan must play emphasis on job creation

RUKUNEGARA

Statement by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Lim Kit Siang, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a press conference at Penang Bayan Lepas airport on Wednesday, 14 Oct. 1970 at 9.30p.m.

RUKUNEGARA

The Alliance government and the Gerakan Ra’ayat Malaysia have jointly worked out a national ideology, or Rukunegara, for the people of Malaysia.

We in the DAP have no part in the formulation of the Rukunegara. But as far back as in 1966, I have had the opportunity to write in the DAP organ, the Rocket, that the people of Malaysia should reach a common set of fundamental objectives on nation building, a national consensus, to ensure a united, peaceful and prosperous Malaysia. Continue reading RUKUNEGARA

Can democracy work in Malaysia

Statement by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Lim Kit Siang, at a press conference in Ipoh on Tuesday, 13th Oct. 1970.

Since my release from detention on Oct. 1, I have visited all the West coast states (except Penang where I am going later today), and the question uppermost in the people’s mind is whether democracy can work in Malaysia.

The general elections of May 10, 1969, was the high-water mark of democracy in Malaysia. After the announcement of the results, there was a new mood in the country, a new hope that democracy may after all work and bring about change and progress.

But within three days, the country was plunged into her darkest days, and democracy virtually pronounced dead. Continue reading Can democracy work in Malaysia