Author: Curator

DAP to contest Klang Parliamentary and State seats

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP Public Rally at Pandamaram New Village, near Port Swettenham, on Sunday, 23.2.1969 at 8p.m.

The DAP and the Gerakan have reached an electoral understanding for the coming general elections to avoid three-cornered electoral contests.

The DAP will field candidates in all the Parliamentary and State constituencies in Klang. This means that the DAP will contest the Damansara, Klang and Kapar Parliamentary seats, and the Bukit Raja, Kampong Jawa, Port Swettenham and Sementa State seats.

The people of Klang and the Surrounding areas will have a clear choice before them in the next general elections which will be held most probably in May.

They have to choose between the racialism, feudalism, capitalism, corruption and incompetence of the Alliance, and the DAP crusade for a clean, honest and effective government, cultural democracy, multi-lingualism, democratic, socialism and a Malaysian Malaysia. Continue reading DAP to contest Klang Parliamentary and State seats

Allocation of sites for hawkers at Jalan Petaling

(22.2.69)
Dear Inche Harun,

This is to bring your attention to certain improprieties in the allocation of sites for hawkers at Jalan Petaling, Kuala Lumpur during the pre-Chinese New Year sales period.

At the Balloting for Hawker’s sites at Jalan Petaling held on February 12 at the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 16 best sites were reserved, and not open for balloting. This is clearly improper.

It is believed that these reserved sites were let out to hawkers at prices raging from $400 to $600.

On 13th Feb., I issued a public statement asking the Municipal Hawkers’ Sub-Committee to explain why the 16 best sites were reserved, and to whom were they allocated.

Apart from a childish reply from the MCA Maju Ward, which claims credit for the entire arrangement, there has been no satisfactory explanation from the Municipal ‘Hawkers’ Sub-Committee. Continue reading Allocation of sites for hawkers at Jalan Petaling

A setback for democracy for five years

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, to the Petaling Jaya DAP Branch on Friday, February 14, 1969 at 8.30p.m.

The Dewan Ra’ayat adjourned yesterday for the last time, to await dissolution for the general elections.

The second Malaysian Parliament, from 1964 – 1969, has done more to undermine democratic beliefs and practices, than to foster them.The last five years represent in fact a set-back for democracy.

It was this Dewan Ra’ayat which amended the Malaysian Constitution to kick out Singapore when the Alliance leaders found the People’s Action Party too much of a match for them in the open political argument and debate.

It was again this Dewan Ra’ayat which amended the Malaysian Constitution to remove Stephen Kalong Ningkan from the Chief Ministership of Sarawak just because Stephen Kalong Ningkan refused to toe the Alliance line.

It as also this Dewan Ra’ayat which amended the Constitution to suspend Parliamentary and State Assembly by- elections when Alliance leaders feared losing the seats to the Opposition. Continue reading A setback for democracy for five years

Call to Chua Song Lim to explain his stand on Chinese education

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the Sungei Way DAP Branch on Thursday, February 14, 1969 at 8p.m.

The recent statements by the MCA National Vice President, Mr. Chua Song Lim, on the question of the recognition of Nanyang and Formosan degrees and qualifications reflect faithfully the MCA stand on Chinese language, education and culture.

On the 18th January 1969, Mr. Chua Song Lim gave a policy speech on behalf of the MCA in Muar and reaffirmed without qualification the MCA opposition to the recognition of Nantah and Formosan University degrees and qualifications, on the ground that they are of low academic standard.

This caused a nation-wide uproar from Nantah and Formosan University graduates, and from DAP branches throughout the country.

At a DAP public rally at Kulai, Johore, on January 31, I asked MR. Chua Song Lim to give three reason to justify the MCA and his personal opposition to the recognition of Nantah degrees. Continue reading Call to Chua Song Lim to explain his stand on Chinese education

Tun Tan Siew Sin’s ‘bogus’ budget

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, art a DAP Public Rally at Jalan Brunei, Pudu, Kuala Lumpur on Wednesday, February 12, 1969 at 8p.m.

As a result of Tun Tan Siew Sin’s budget last month, the apples and oranges for this Chinese New Year are costing more than previous years.

But this is the last Chinese New Year where only the prices of oranges and apples go up. From the next Chinese New Year onwards, the prices of all goods will shoot up, causing a very much higher cost of living than today.

This is because Tun Tan Siew Sin’s next budget is going to be a very painful one for the people of Malaysia, as it will be a budget of multiple taxes.

Tun Tan Siew Sin and his Treasury boys must have already worked out a host of new and regressive taxes to introduce after the next general elections. Continue reading Tun Tan Siew Sin’s ‘bogus’ budget

National Solidarity

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP Public Rally in Port Dickson on Saturday, February 9, 1969 at 6p.m.

Rallies, flag-raising ceremonies, cultural shows, film shows, competitions, dances and parties will be held for the next week on the occasion of this year’s National Solidarity Week.

The Alliance leaders think that all these outward show will be able to cement and unite the diverse races in Malaysia into one people. Are we really going to find on February 14, when the National Solidarity Week closes, a more united, purposeful and cohesive Malaysian nation than today? Only fools will think so.

We have been holding National Solidarity Weeks for six years, but they have not prevented the first major racial conflict in Penang and a ridiculous law to compel respect to the National Anthem – which is an abject confession of the utter failure of the Alliance government to create national solidarity and unity since Merdeka 12 years ago.

National solidarity weeks, rallies, exhibitions, speeches, etc. are useful only if there exists a basis for national solidarity. If such a basis does not exist, all the rallies and fanfare will be no more than a grand self-delusion and self-deception. Continue reading National Solidarity

Unemployment in Malaysia: DAP calls for a new government department specially to look after mass retrenchment cases

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the general meeting of the DAP Labour Bureau general meeting in Kuala Lumpur, 63-D Jalan Sultan, February 9, 1969 at 9 a.m.

Last month, when the Ipoh Municipal Council wanted to fill 21 vacancies for labourers, over 2,000 people jammed the Municipal Padang for the posts.

Later in the month, when a new hotel in Kuala Lumpur advertised for 110 vacancies for waiters, receptionists, cashiers, bellboys and supervisors, over 4,500 people, including 3,000 School Certificate holders, applied for the positions.

These are not exceptional cases. They have become normal occurrences. They illustrate the gravity and seriousness of the rising unemployment problem in Malaysia.

What is shocking is that the Alliance leaders do not seem concerned about this serious unemployment problem. Continue reading Unemployment in Malaysia: DAP calls for a new government department specially to look after mass retrenchment cases

Challenge to the Editor of the Sin Chew Jit Poh to a public debate on the DAP’s policy of multi-lingualism

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the Second Anniversary Dinner Celebration of the Seremban DAP Branch held at the Seremban Town Hall on Saturday, 1st February 1969 at 7p.m.

In the past ten days, the Sin Chew Jit Poh has written three editorials criticizing the DAP’s policy of multi-lingualism.

We would have welcomed these editorials if they had been genuine, sincere and constructive attempts to discuss the language question in Malaysia – which is one of the key issues in our country.

Unfortunately, this was not their intention. It is plain that the intention of the Sin Chew Jit Poh was to distort the DAP’s language stand and smear the DAP’s image and standing, in an attempt to mislead and deceive its readers about the true language policy of the DAP.

A good case in point is the latest editorial, which appeared in today’s issue of sin Chew Jit Poh. (February 1, 1969)

The crux of the Sin Chew Jit Poh attack is that the DAP, in the words of the editorial, “seeks to restore the colonial status of English, and is only reluctantly dragging in Malay, Chinese and Tamil languages.”

The Sin Chew Jit Poh editorial has deliberately and blatantly ignored our policy of multi-lingualism, which also seeks official language status for Chinese and Tamil. Continue reading Challenge to the Editor of the Sin Chew Jit Poh to a public debate on the DAP’s policy of multi-lingualism

Mr. Chua Song Lim asked to give three reasons to justify his stand that Nanyang University of low academic standard

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP Public Rally at Kulai, Johore, on Friday, January 31, 1969 at 8p.m.

On the 18th January, the MCA National Vice President, Mr. Chua Song Lim, gave a policy speech in Muar on the MCA’s stand on the recognition of Nanyang and Formosan university degrees and qualifications.

Mr. Chua said the Alliance government was right in refusing to recognize Nanyang University degrees because of its low academic standard.

How does Mr. Chua know? Did he speak with knowledge, or was it merely from hearsay? Has he made a study and comparison of the standard of the Nanyang University with other universities, for instance, the University of Malaya or the University of Singapore?

Is Mr. Chua qualified and competent to make any such study and comparison? We know Mr. Chua is a very successful and prosperous rubber baron, who knows when to strike a business deal to pile up a fortune, and who grows richer and richer year by year. But that does not make him an authority qualified to condemn the Nanyang University as of low academic standard! Continue reading Mr. Chua Song Lim asked to give three reasons to justify his stand that Nanyang University of low academic standard

Spare hawkers from police and government harassment during Chinese New Year festive season

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP Public Rally at Loke Yew Flats, Bungsar, on Wednesday, January 29, 1969 at 9.45p.m.

An open appeal to Mr. Khaw Khai Boh to spare hawkers from police and government harassment during Chinese New Year festive season

The government and the police have tended to regard and treat hawkers as anti-social elements, on the level with thieves and burglars, to be harassed and bullied whenever the occasion arises.

This is a wrong attitude, which should be abandoned immediately. Hawkers, licensed or unlicensed, are trying to make out a living for themselves and their dependants from hawking.

If they do not or are not allowed to hawk, they and their families will starve and suffer, and their children will not be able to go to school, be in good health and have decent environment to grow up into useful citizens of Malaysia.

Just as poverty is basically a social problem, which it is the responsibility of the government to solve, similarly the hawker problem is a social problem, which the government must handle with humanity and compassion. Continue reading Spare hawkers from police and government harassment during Chinese New Year festive season