Author: Curator

The lock-out of Central Printing Co. At Petaling Jaya

The DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, today issued the following statement (23.3.1969):

The seven-week lock-out of the Central Printing Co. in Petaling Jaya is a good example of the utter helplessness of workers in the face of the unholy alliance between rapacious capital and anti-labour government against the working class.

When management and the government team up to deny the workers their fundamental rights to unionise, and to a more decent standard of living, the workers are crushed and left to their misery and suffering.

70-odd The Central Printing Co.’s Lock-out was a mass punishment of the workers of the printing firm for unionization last October and for asking for improved wages and working conditions.

The Industrial Relations Act was supposed to contain safeguards against victimization, intimidation and dismissal of workers by employers for active union work. But here is a case of victimization not of one worker, but of all workers – because they decided to form a union. Continue reading The lock-out of Central Printing Co. At Petaling Jaya

Mr. Khaw Kai Boh asked to explain why he opposes Merdeka University and yet supports National University

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP Public Rally at Kampar, Perak, On Saturday, 22nd March 1969 at 8p.m.

At the opening of a MCA branch at University Gardens in Petaling Jaya last Saturday, the Minister for Local Government and Housing, Mr. Khaw Kai Boh, said he would be the first to support the Merdeka University if the government would recognize the degrees and qualifications of the University.

Instead of making such dishonest statements, Mr. Khaw should be truthful and say openly he is opposed to the Merdeka University.

We all know whether the Alliance government recognize the degrees of the Merdeka University or not depends on the Alliance Cabinet, of which Mr. Khaw Kai Boh is a full member.

If Mr. Khaw and his MCA Ministerial colleagues support the Merdeka University as a worthwhile educational project, then the chances of government recognition of its degrees are bright. But if the MCA leaders are the foremost opponents of the Merdeka University, as many of them, including Tun Tan Siew Sin, Mr. Khaw Kai Boh, Mr. Lee San Choon, Mr. Quek Kai Dong, Mr. Siow Loong Hin, etc., have gone on public record on this, then the present Alliance cabinet will not support the Merdeka University project. Continue reading Mr. Khaw Kai Boh asked to explain why he opposes Merdeka University and yet supports National University

A Challenge to Mr. Khaw Khai Boh

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP Public Rally at Ipoh Road, 4 ½ m.s., Kuala Lumpur on Friday, 21st March 1969 at 9 p.m.

In his speech at Kampong Lompang two days ago, the Minister for Local Government and Housing, Mr. Khaw Kai Boh, asked the DAP to explain its language stand.

Mr. Khaw wanted to know why the DAP was opposed to the Alliance Putting up multi-lingual propaganda on top of the multi-storey Circular Road housing flats, when the DAP claimed that it was fighting for equal use and status of the four languages.

I had not expected Mr. Khaw Kai Boh to be so naïve. What the DAP objected to was not the four languages bring used on the Circular Road housing blocks, but to the blatant Alliance propaganda on public housing flats, as the words were: “Another Alliance low-cost housing achievement.”

In the first place, the Circular Road housing flats are not ‘low-costs’ ones. They are high-cost flats. Continue reading A Challenge to Mr. Khaw Khai Boh

A tribute to D.R. Seenivasagam

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a condolence meeting for the late D.R. Seenivasagam hold at the Puchong 14 m.s. DAP Branch on Wednesday, 19th March 1969 at 6 p.m.

We gather here today to honour the memory of Ipoh’s most famous son and Malaysia’s most outstanding opposition leader in the last 15 years, the late D.R. Seenivasagam.

Malaysians have lost a leader and a fearless crusader against corruption, racialism and all forms of social injustice and inequality, whether between the races, languages or even classes.

For 15 years, D.R. Seenivasagam dedicated himself to one noble idea 0 the realization of a equal and just Malaysian society, where there are no first-class or second-class citizens, and where all languages, including Tamil, Chinese and English share official status with Malay, and where is no exploitation of man by man, race by race , language by language.

For 15 years, D.R. Seenivasagam held high the torch of individual rights and liberties against growing government threats from the Alliance. Continue reading A tribute to D.R. Seenivasagam

The Metalex affair

The DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, today issued the following statement (18.3.69):

It is clear that the Director of Anti-Corruption Agency, Inche Harun bin Hashim, had failed to make an independent and thorough investigation last Saturday when I first raised the question of Mr. Khaw Khai Boh being one and the same time a Cabinet Minister and a director of Metalex (M)Co. in 1963, 1964 and 1965, before announcing the result.

Within an hour of my press conference, Inche Harun had already announced the completion of his investigations, and described as ‘unfounded’ the suggestion that Mr. Khaw was a director of Metalex (M) Co. when he was Cabinet Minister.

But Inche Harun conspicuously ignored the most vital part of my statement at the press conference – although he sent a representative to my press conference and took copies of my written statement. And it was this: that my information came from the Registry of Company records and from annual return of the Metalex (M) Co.

Any independent and thorough investigation must involve an inquiry into the Registry of Company records pertaining to this matter. But no, Inche Harun did nothing of the sort. It was only after I had pressed for an explanation for this seeming discrepancy the very next day that Inche Harun instituted ‘further investigations’, and found that it was the company’s mistake in continuing to list Mr. Khaw as a director although he had already resigned. Continue reading The Metalex affair

Mr. Khaw Khai Boh as director of a compamy

The DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, today issued the following statement (16.3.1969):

I must commend Inche Harun bin Hashim, the Director of Anti-Corruption Agency, for the speed with which he completed his investigations as to whether Mr. Khaw Khai Boh was a director of Metalex (M) Co. when he was minister without Portfolio.

An hour after my press conference yesterday, Inche Harun had already investigated into the matter and found my allegation ‘unfounded.’

But both Inche Harun bin Hashim and Mr. Khaw Khai Boh did not explain why the annual returns of Metalex (M) Co. Filed with the Registry of Companies in 1965 still showed Mr. Khaw Khai Boh as one of the directors, when Mr. Khaw had resigned in March 1963 before assuming Ministerial office.

This clearly calls for an explanation.

The death of D.R. Seenivasagam

The death of D.R. Seenivasagam

The Secretary- General of the Democratic Action Party, Mr. Goh Hock Guan, today made the following statement on the death of D.R. Seenivasagam:

“The death of D.R. is a loss to the country and to us who are his friends, D.R. has earned a secure place in Malaysian history as a great fighter for justice, equality, and the legitimate rights of all the people that make up Malaysia.

“Whether it be to save the life of a grenade girl or to defend the fundamental rights of Malaysians or to hound down those who abuse their powers, D.R. has pursued his objective with a gusto that was the delight of his friends and the terror of his foes. Continue reading The death of D.R. Seenivasagam

Public Inquiry into Mr. Khaw Khai Boh’s connection with Metalex (M) Co. Ltd

Statement by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a press conference at DAP KL Branch, 63-D Jalan Sultan, on Saturday, 15th March 1969 at 11.30a.m.

A week ago, on 8th March 1969, at a public rally at Gemas Bahru, Segamat, Johore, I asked the Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, and the Director of Anti-Corruption Agency, Inche Harun bin Hashim, whether it was proper for a Cabinet Minister to be one and the same time a director of a private firm.

Since, then, the Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency, Inche Harun bin Hashim, has said that the legal position was very clear and that no Cabinet Minister can be a director of a private firm at the same time.

Inche Harun also said that his Agency would investigate into any such instance, and would not allow anybody, including the Cabinet, to interfere with its duties and responsibilities.

I have called this press conference to disclose an instance of a Cabinet Minister who was for about three years also a director of a private firm. Continue reading Public Inquiry into Mr. Khaw Khai Boh’s connection with Metalex (M) Co. Ltd

Minister as director of company

Statement by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a press conference at DAP KL Branch, 63-D Jalan Sultan, on Saturday, 15th March 1969 at 11.30a.m.

A week ago, on 8th March 1969, at a public rally at Gemas Bahru, Segamat, Johore, I asked the Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, and the Director of Anti-Corruption Agency, Inche Harun bin Hashim, whether it was proper for a Cabinet Minister to be one and the same time a director of a private firm.

Since then, the director of the Anti-Corruption agency, Inche Harun bin Hashim, has said that the legal position was very clear and that no Cabinet Minister could be a director of a private firm.

I have called to the Registry of Company records, Mr. Khaw Khai Boh was director of Metalex (M) CO., a manufacturers’ representative for iron and steel, non- ferrous metals, construction materials, tin plates, etc. for the years 1962, 1963, and 1964.

According to the Registry of Company records, Mr. Khaw Khai Boh was director of Metalex (M) Co., a manufacturers’ representative for iron and steel, non-ferrous metals, construction materials, tin plates, etc. for the year 1962, 1963, and 1964. Continue reading Minister as director of company

Lee San Choon and Merdeka University

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP Public Rally at Salak South Town, Bungsar, on Thursday, 13 March 1969 at 8 p.m.

I was shocked to read in today’s press that the MCA Publicity Director, Mr. Lee San Choon, had to check to quote Tun Sir Cheng Lock Tan, when he is one of the main detractors of the late Sir Cheng Lock Tan’s life work and struggle.

It was Mr. Lee San Choon who said in Kuantan on May 2, 1968:”The MCA holds that the Merdeka University project is an attempt to deceive the people. It claims to be able to find an outlet for them but in fact will bring them to the end of the road. Nantah is a good example.”

From his statement in Kuantan last year, it is clear that Mr. Lee San Choon regards the Nantah and its sponsors and founders including the late Tun Sir Cheng Lock-Tan who was one of Nantah’s most eloquent advocates, as a ‘big fraud and deceit ’ on the people.

This is probably why the MCA strongly opposes the recognition of Nantah degrees, in violation of the memory of Tun Sir Cheng Lock Tan’s contribution to Nantah. Continue reading Lee San Choon and Merdeka University