Author: Curator

Will Inche Harun bin Hashim take action if a Cabinet Minister is a director of a private firm?

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP Public Rally at Jalan Meru, Klang on Wednesday, 12th March 1969 at 8p.m.

Four nights ago, at a public rally at Gemas Bahru in 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.

There is no reply from the Prime Minister. However, the Director of Anti-Corruption Agency, Inche Harun bin Hashim, told a local Chinese press, Malayan Thung Pao, that the legal position was very clear that a Cabinet Minister could not be a director of a private firm at one and the same time.

Inche Harun also said that if I have any information, I should give it to him directly.

I am prepared to give him information, directly and publicly. But before I do this, I want an assurance from him that on receipt of my information, he would institute immediate investigations and take all the necessary actions – and that he would not allow the Cabinet to interfere or veto with his investigations and duties. Continue reading Will Inche Harun bin Hashim take action if a Cabinet Minister is a director of a private firm?

DAP calls for all–party meeting to allocate radio and TV time during general elections

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the Perak DAP State Committee Meeting at Ipoh, on Tuesday, 11th March 1969 at 7.30p.m.

During the forthcoming general elections campaign, the competing political parties should get fair allocation of radio and television time to explain their party platform and programmes to the electorate.

In the past, the Alliance party unilaterally and arbitrarily allocated radio time to the various political parties, with it getting the lion’s share. Apart from other semi-political radio broadcasts, the entire radio network was virtually devoted to alliance propaganda during the general elections.

This is unfair and undemocratic. During general elections, the radio and television facilities should be fairly available to the various competing political parties to put their views to the electorate so that the voters can choose between the various parties and platforms with an informed mind.

The DAP therefore calls for the setting up of an all party committee to allocate radio and television time to the various competing parties in the general elections, on fair and equitable and democratic basis. This should be decided now, and not wait until after Nomination Day. Continue reading DAP calls for all–party meeting to allocate radio and TV time during general elections

Merdeka University and the MCA

The DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, today issued the following statement (11.3.69):

In his speech at Kuala Kubu two days ago on 9th March 1969, the Minister of Local Government and Housing, Mr. Khaw Khai Boh, endorsed the statement by his MCA colleague, Mr. Quek Kai Dong, Member of Parliament of Seremban Timor, that “the Merdeka University was a political scheme to destroy the position of Malaysian Chinese.”

Mr. Khaw Khai Boh and Mr. Quek Kai Dong now want the people to believe that the sponsors of the Merdeka University, like Mr. Sim Moh Yu, Mr. Lu ting Yu, and all those organizations, associations, societies and individuals who have come out warmly in support of this educational project, are “anti-Chinese ,and traitors” of Malaysian Chinese.

Mr. Khaw Khai Boh and Mr. Quek Kai Dong should stop taking the people as feels who can be easily bluffed. Only the Tun Tan Siew Sins will believe such a preposterous statement.

Why did Mr. Khaw Khai Boh and Mr. Quek Kai Dong make such irresponsible and mischievous statements? Continue reading Merdeka University and the MCA

Who is the true champion of the people’s interest – the DAP or the MCA

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the first anniversary celebration of the Serdang Bahru DAP Branch on Sunday, 9th March 1969 at 8p.m.

The DAP has been accused by the MCA of being a Chinese chauvinist party.

If the DAP is truly a Chinese chauvinist part, then the DAP will only have Chinese members and leaders, and not the multi-racial membership and leadership as we have in the DAP. Our National Vice Chairman, Nor Jettey bin Mohamed, our Deputy Secretary-General, Daing Ibrahim bin Othman, are Malaysians of Malay origin. Our Another Deputy Secretary-General, Dr. K.S.Das, our National Treasurer, Dr.S.Seeverratnam, Central Excecutive Councillor Dr. A.Seerian and Mr.C.V.Devan Nair are Malaysians of Indian origin.

Just as at the level of the DAP national leadership, we have Malaysians of all racial origins, so too at State and branch levels, we have a completely multi-racial composition.

This is in direct contrast to the racialist structure of the MCA, which only allows Chinese to join as member and to become leaders. Continue reading Who is the true champion of the people’s interest – the DAP or the MCA

“Only MCA competent to represent the Chinese” – to betray their legitimate rights and interests

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP Public Rally at Jelebu, Negri Sembilan, on Wednesday, 5th March 1969 at 8p.m.

In his message to the MCA on the occasion of its 20th anniversary, the Deputy Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak said that the Malaysian Chinese was “the only party competent to represent the Malaysian Chinese.”

There are two ways of representing Malaysian Chinese, or any particular community. One way is to represent the Malaysian Chinese in their fight for equal Malaysian citizenship, free study and use of the Chinese language and culture, and equal rights in every sphere of Malaysian life, whether in education, economic opportunities or cultural development.

The other way is to represent the Malaysian Chinese in the acceptance of a racialist policy, which seeks to make Malaysian Chinese second-class citizens of Malaysia, by branding them as non-bumiputras, the elimination of the Chinese language and Chinese education through a ‘one nation, one language’ policy, and the practice of discrimination against them in education, economic sphere and in cultural life.

The MCA has represented Malaysian Chinese competently in the second category, not to fight for their legitimate interests, but to slavishly accept and implement UMNO’s racialist policy and betray the legitimate rights and interest of Malaysian Chinese. Continue reading “Only MCA competent to represent the Chinese” – to betray their legitimate rights and interests

Electricity for Puchong 14.m.s.

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the Puchong 14.m.s. DAP Branch on Tuesday, 4th March 1969 at 8p.m.

Even up to today, there is still no electricity for the people of Puchong 14.m.s when their friends at Puchong 12.m.s, which is a much smaller area, have already been enjoying the facilities of electricity for a considerable time.

There is no reason why electricity cannot be extended to Puchong 14.m.s. if we have a government which genuinely cares for the welfare and livelihood of the people.

The people of Puchong pay as much taxes and rates as people in other areas, which have electricity. Why are the people of Puchong 14.m.s discriminated against?

The people of Puchong want to know what the Member of Parliament for the area, Mr. Michael Chen, the Parliamentary Secretary to Tun Razak, had done in the last five years to bring electricity to Puchong 14.m.s. to light up the lives of his voters in the area? Continue reading Electricity for Puchong 14.m.s.

Can a Cabinet Minister be a director of private firm?

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the second anniversary dinner of the DAP Penang Branch at Violet Café, Jalan Magazine, Penang on Saturday, 1st March 1969 at 8p.m.

Is it proper for a minister of the Cabinet to be one and the same time a director of a private firm?

Is it proper, say, for a Minister of Commerce and industry to be also a director of a private manufacturing firm, or for a Minister of Housing to be a director of a private firm dealing with the sale of construction materials?

I ask the Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, and the Director of Anti-Corruption Agency, Inche Harun bin Hashim, this question.

When the Anti-Corruption Agency was set up early last year, its Director, Inche Harun bin Hashim, hit the headlines continuously, with his announcement of anti-corruption measures, and his determination to act against all those dealing with corrupt practices – including politicians. He said no one was too high or too low for him to investigate. Continue reading Can a Cabinet Minister be a director of private firm?

National Language

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the establishment of the Damansara elections Sub-Committee held at the Salak South New Village DAP Branch on Friday, 28th Feb. 1969 at 8p.m.

Last Tuesday, at the opening of the Yoke Nam National Type Primary School, the Assistant Minister of Education, Mr. Lee Siok Yew, said that “the national language should not only be used for lessons in schools, but also at home and in conversations wherever people meet.”

I will like to ask Mr. Lee Siok Yew, and his colleagues in the MCA. Including Dr. Lim Swee Aunn, Mr Khaw Khai Boh, Mr. Michael Chen, Mr. Quek Kai Dong, Mr. Siow Loong Hin, Mr. Chua Song Lim and Mr. Chan Chong Wen, whether they use the National Language at home, when they speak to their parents, wives, children and relatives? I will not ask Tun Tan Siew Sin this question as he does now know a word of Chinese.

I will also like to know from Mr. Lee Siok Yew, whether when in conversation with his MCA colleagues, like Mr. Michael Chen, they speak in the National Language?

Mr. Lee Siok Yew, when he called for the use of the National Language in homes, was trying to implement the UMNO policy of ‘one nation, one language’ in Malaysia. The UMNO fanatics will not permit the other languages free growth, and that is why they do not permit the use of Chinese and other languages in the Parliament, State Assemblies, correspondence with government, public notices, and as a media of instruction and examination in schools. Continue reading National Language

DAP calls for Defence White Paper

The DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, today issued the following statement(26/2/69) :

The Australian and New Zealand decision to maintain their forces in Malaysia and Singapore despite the British defence withdrawal in 1971 will give Malaysia and Singapore more breathing space to develop stronger defence mechanisms of their own.

We must never forget that although the Australian and New Zealand governments have now decided to continue to participate in the collective defence arrangements after 1971, there is nothing to prevent this decision from being reversed at a later date, if Australians and New Zealanders decide that this is to their own best interest in changed circumstances.

Malaysia should make full use of this breathing space to do basic thinking and planning about her defence problems and needs.

Since the British announcement that she was withdrawing militarily from South East Asia, the Australian, New Zealand and Singapore governments have got down to fundamental reappraised and thinking about their defence requirements. But not Malaysia, which is drifting from day to day, without any overall defence policy. Continue reading DAP calls for Defence White Paper

Investment and Corruption

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP Public Rally at Petaling Jaya Old Town Centre on Monday, 24.2.1969 at 8,30p.m.

Yesterday, in the Sunday papers, we read of a typical example of industrial investment in the Republic of Singapore.

Last November, the board of directors of Texas Instruments Inc. decided in the Dallas to set up a factory in Singapore to manufacture electronic components.

And in 50days, it had its factory up in Singapore, and in production, giving employment to 500 people – which will double in another four month.

Such a thing will be a near-miracle in Malaysia. In our country, it is not uncommon for investor to have to wait for three months for an acknowledgement from government department saying that they have received their letters.

This was what happened to a British company which wanted to start a $5million tapioca estate in Malaysia. It sent a letter to a government department for topographical maps, but after three months, has not even received an acknowledgement. This British company announced last month it was reconsidering its decision to invest in Malaysia. Continue reading Investment and Corruption