Author: Curator

Note related to the DAP-Gerakan cultural debate

Note related to the DAP-Gerakan Cultural Debate, filed on 21st Nov 1968:

It is today learnt from a DAP source that DAP leaders had at first certain reservations about the DAP-Gerakan cultural debate, because of its likely adverse effect on an opposition electoral understanding for the general elections next year.

The source said that the DAP realised that the Malaysian public wanted the opposition parties to reach an electoral understanding so as not to benefit the Alliance through split opposition votes arising from three-cornered or more-cornered fights.

This was why the DAP negotiated and reached an electoral agreement with the People’s Progressive Party early this year.

The source said that there was no possibility of a merger between the DAP and the Gerakan because they had divergent cultural policies. Continue reading Note related to the DAP-Gerakan cultural debate

General elections plans and preparations

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the Johore DAP State Committee meeting held in Kluang on Saturday, 17th Nov. 1968 at 3.30 p.m. to discuss plans and preparations for the general elections.

After the Segamat Utara Parliamentary by-election, Alliance Ministers began to attack the DAP. Even the Deputy Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak, referred specifically to the DAP when he went down to Tampoi early this month. Tun Razak said the DAP is a dangerous party. What he meant is that the DAP is dangerous to the Alliance.

If the DAP had lost badly in Segamat Utara Parliamentary by-election, no Alliance Minister, least of all Tun Abdul Razak, would have bothered to talk about the DAP. Continue reading General elections plans and preparations

MCA to make clear its stand on the proposed FAMA Fish Marketing Board Scheme

The Chairman of the Batu Pahat DAP Branch, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, today (17.11.1968) asked the Malayan Chinese Association to make clear its stand on the proposed FAMA Fish Marketing Board Scheme.

Mr. Lim who is also Organising Secretary of the Party, told reporters that since that the scheme was announced at the end of last month, all organisations concerned had opposed the scheme – whether wholesalers, retailers or the fishermen themselves.

The DAP had also from the start criticised the scheme as likely to cause hardship and unemployment to tens of thousands of fish-mongers, raise the price of fish for the consumers, without bringing any appreciable benefit to the fishermen. Continue reading MCA to make clear its stand on the proposed FAMA Fish Marketing Board Scheme

DAP Central Executive Committee to meet on general election plans and preparations

The Organising Secretary of the Democratic Action Party, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, today (17.11.1968) issued the following statement:

The Central Executive Committee of the DAP will meet in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow to discuss and review general election plans and preparations.

The Party has been greatly encouraged by the Segamat Utara Parliamentary by-election results last month. Continue reading DAP Central Executive Committee to meet on general election plans and preparations

Five-point plan to democratise political life in Malaysia

The Organising Secretary of the Democratic Action Party, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, today (15.11.1968) proposed a five-point plan to democratise political life in Malaysia.

Mr. Lim, who was speaking at a political discussion at the Tampoi DAP Branch, said under the Alliance rule, the basis of Malaysian democracy was systematically eroded year by year.

The five-point democratisation plan is:

• DEMOCRATISE the mass media of communications;
• DEMOCRATISE the government’s control of political party activities;
• DEMOCRATISE the conduct of elections;
• DEMOCRATISE local government; and
• DEMOCRATISE the university campus. Continue reading Five-point plan to democratise political life in Malaysia

DAP calls for withdrawal of FAMA Fish Marketing Board Scheme

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the DAP public rally at Jelupang on Sunday, 3rd Nov, 1968 at 8 p.m.

DAP calls for withdrawal of FAMA Fish Marketing Board Scheme

The DAP calls for the withdrawal of the FAMA Fish Marketing Board Scheme as the FAMA has been unable to explain to the public and the fish industry how its proposed scheme could benefit all concerned.

On the contrary, it is clear to all who read the proposed FAMA Fish Marketing Board Scheme that if the scheme is implemented, everyone, whether it be the wholesaler, fishmonger, fishermen or consumer, will suffer. The scheme, as it stands, will disrupt and dislocate the fish trade and raise the price of fish. Continue reading DAP calls for withdrawal of FAMA Fish Marketing Board Scheme

The debate with Dr. Naguib Alatas

Press Statement by DAP Organising Secretary, Lim Kit Siang, on 12.11.68:

The press has asked me for comments on Dr. Naguib Alatas’ statement today concerning the debate.

When I accepted Dr. Naguib Alatas’ open challenge to me to a debate with him on Gerakan’s cultural policy, I said I was prepared to do it ‘any time, any place and anywhere.’

I had suggested that the debate should be at the Chinese Assembly Hall, because it had three times the seating capacity as the MARA Auditorium, which could take in less than 500 people. I had felt sure that Dr. Naguib Alatas, with his great store of learning, would want more people to hear his words of wisdom and culture.

As Dr. Naguib Alatas insists on the MARA Auditorium, I am perfectly agreeable. It is rather childish for him to make charges like I am trying to run away from the debate. Continue reading The debate with Dr. Naguib Alatas

DAP Replies to Inche Khir Johari

The DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, today (11.11.68) issued the following statement:

The UMNO Secretary-General, Inche Khir Johari, has indulged in his usual past-time of mud-slinging the opposition party. He said yesterday that DAP’s ‘Malaysian Malaysia’ slogan was dangerous, but added that it was ‘nothing new’ as the Alliance had been working on the concept.

What Inche Khir meant is that the DAP’s Malaysian Malaysia campaign was dangerous to the Alliance Party and its election chances, as the majority of thinking Malaysians support the concept.

In a multi-racial society like ours, only a policy which gives to every citizen, regardless of his race, religion or language, an equal stake in the future of this country can succeed in uniting the diverse peoples into one nationhood. This, in short, is the meaning and objective of a Malaysian Malaysia.

Inche Khir even claims that the Alliance is working gradually for a ‘Malaysian Malaysia.’ Continue reading DAP Replies to Inche Khir Johari

Details of debate with Dr. Syed Naguib Alatas

The DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, today (9.11.68) issued the following statement:

I have already accepted the challenge by Dr. Syed Naguib Alatas to me to have a public debate on the Gerakan’s cultural policy.

But to date, we seemed to have agreed only on two things: the chairmanship of the debate by Mr. D. R. Seenivasagam, and the date of November 24.

To avoid misunderstanding, and avoid having to argue on November 24 about the procedures of the debate, I will outline the details of the debate:

Subject: Gerakan’s cultural policy, as enunciated by Dr. Syed Naguib Alatas publicly, which I have described as an attempt to Indonesianise Malaysian culture. Continue reading Details of debate with Dr. Syed Naguib Alatas

Debate with Dr. Syed Naguib Alatas

Statement by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a Press Conference at 63-D Jalan Sultan, Kuala Lumpur on Thursday, November 7, 1968 at 2 p.m.

Dr. Syed Naguib Alatas now seems to suggest the although he is a national Gerakan leader, what he had said about Malaysian culture at the University of Malaya from in July this year were his personal views, and not that of the Gerakan.

Yet, in another breath, he said that some of his ideas form part of the Gerakan’s cultural policy.

I am not aware of any Gerakan cultural policy, apart from the one expounded by Dr. Syed Naguib Alatas, which is a brazen attempt to Indonesianise Malaysian culture. Continue reading Debate with Dr. Syed Naguib Alatas