The fiction of one-man one-vote in Malaysia

Talk by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, to the First DAP Selangor State Political and Elections Symposium held at Setapak DAP Branch premises on Sunday, August 4 at 9 p.m.

Although Malaysia claims to be operating under the democratic system of one-man one-vote, this is more a fiction than a fact.

The present electoral system denies equal political rights to citizens of Malaysia, and is calculated to entrench the power of the UMNO in the country.

From the 1966 revised electoral figures, we notice the extreme case where Bungsar constituency has 69,021 voters, while Syed Jaffar Albar’s Johore Tenggara seat has only 11,735 voters. In other words, one voter in Johore Tenggara exercises the same influence of electing one M.P. as six Bungsar voters. This is not one-man one-vote system, but one-Johore-Tenggara-man six-Bungsar-vote system. Continue reading The fiction of one-man one-vote in Malaysia

National clemency movement to save the 13 condemned

Statement by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a Press Conference in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, August 2, 1968 at 3.30 p.m. on the national clemency movement to save the 13 condemned

Hundreds of thousands of Malaysians feel a personal sorrow and grief when they learn of the rejection of the Tunku’s appeal for clemency on behalf of the 13 condemned youths by the Sultan of Johore and the Perak Pardons Board.

The hope the Tunku’s appeal for clemency had raised for the 13 condemned has now been snuffed out, as the authorities seem bent on a speedy execution of the 13 condemned.

There appears to be an indecent haste to carry out the executions before the Parliament meets on August 19.

This is a great tragedy, not only for the 13 youths, but for the Malaysian nation. The authorities seem determined to prove to the world that they are deaf to national and international appeals for mercy, and that we are a nation without compassion and humanity.

If a referendum is held now, we are convinced that the majority of Malaysians, of all races, religion and classes, will vote for the reprieve of the death sentence for the 13.

It has been said that justice should take its course. But it is justice that is being denied its course. For justice dictates that youths who were misled during their teens should be given another chance to reform. Justice further demands that when leaders like Inche Ahmad Boestaman, who had been described by an Alliance Minister in the Dewan Ra’ayat as having “conspired with enemies of the State”, are freed and even given scholarships to study law in England, pawns like the 13 youths who have committed a lesser offence should not get a heavier penalty.

It is obvious to observant Malaysians that it is the Mentri Besar of Johore who is responsible for the recent rejection of appeals.

The Sultan of Perak and the Perak Pardons Board would probably have pardoned the two youths, if not for the inflexible attitude of the Johore Mentri Besar.

One consideration which must have influenced the Board is that if the two youths are pardoned, after the rejection of the clemency plea for the 11 in Johore, a communal coloration will be injected into the issue.

The very fact that the Perak Pardons Board met for three hours showed that they had studied the issue at length.

We regret however, that the Perak Pardons Board had not been able to put humanity and compassion above all considerations.

The authorities have shown utter contempt and disregard for the deep wishes of the people.

We still pray that the authorities will be able to change their mind at the last minute.

Sponsors of the national signature campaign are considering various possibilities of trying to reach the authorities, and influence them to change their minds.

One way is for a national mercy march by Malaysians of all races and religion to Johore Bahru and Ipoh to petition for clemency, and allow the people to show the depth and intensity of their feelings.

We are fully aware that past demonstrations have gone out of control, and been misused. If a mercy march is launched, it must be orderly, peaceful and disciplined. Only those who subscribe to peaceful democratic means of public expression will be allowed to take part in the march. All participants will also have to subscribe to a code of conduct.

For such a mercy march to be successful, however, Malaysians of all races, religion and walk of life must respond.

Sponsors of the national campaign for mercy will be getting in touch with civic, trade union and political organisations to seek their views to consider ways to move the campaign onto another level of appeal.

We again pray that the authorities will heed public wishes.

The eyes of the world are watching us to see how we act on this issue. Let us show the world that we have the human feeling to forgive and care for fellow human beings.


Audited on 2021-04-05

The Role of Youth Organisations in Malaysia

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary and Editor of the Rocket, Mr Lim Kit Siang, at a forum on “The Role of Youth Organisations in Malaysia” organised by the Klang Organising Committee for the National Youth Week Celebrations at the Letchumanan Hall, Klang on Wednesday, 31st July 1968 at 7.30 p.m.

Malaysia is a nation of youths. Sixty per cent of our population of close to 10 million people are under 25 years of age.

As such, what the Malaysian youth movement does or does not do is of vital importance to our country, because the majority of our people – as represented by the youths – are in the process of shaping their outlook, aims and purpose in life. Continue reading The Role of Youth Organisations in Malaysia

Independent secondary schools: closure threat by Inche Khir Johari and Mr Lee Siok Yew

The DAP Organising Secretary, Mr Lim Kit Siang, today (29.7.68) issued the following press statement :

Yesterday, the Assistant Minister of Education, Mr. Lee Siok Yew, repeated the warning of the Minister of Education, Inche Khir Johari, that independent secondary schools will be closed down if communist influence in them are not removed.

He claimed that the government has discovered that there had been communist infiltration in the independent secondary schools of four states, namely Negeri Sembilan, Selangor, Penang and Perak. Continue reading Independent secondary schools: closure threat by Inche Khir Johari and Mr Lee Siok Yew

MCA College

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary , Mr Lim Kit Siang, at the Setapak Public Rally on Sunday, July 28 at 8p.m.

The MCA Secretary-General, Mr Kam Woon Wah, declared yesterday that the MCA College is not a “multi–lingual” college.

This is a contradiction of statements by the Minister of Local Government and Housing and Chairman of MCA Working Team on Higher Education Planning Committee, Mr Khaw Khai Boh, and the MCA Youth Leader, Mr Lee San Choon. Continue reading MCA College

Malaysia remain firm, friendly and unrattled by Filipino warmongering

Press Statement

Reports from Manila that leading members of the ruling Nacionalista Party of Philippines, Senator Salvador Laurel and Congressmen Constancio Maglana, have called for a through re-examination of his country’s Sabah claim, and for the “rule of reason over emotion” on the Sabah issue, are encouraging signs of the re-assertion of sane and rational men in Philippines public life.

The rejection of the Philippines claim to Sabah by Malaysia last week nearly brought emotion and hysteria to a boil in Manila, with the Philippines on the verge of rupturing diplomatic relations between the two countries. Continue reading Malaysia remain firm, friendly and unrattled by Filipino warmongering

Senu’s “tension high” statement may heighten tension when there isn’t any

The DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, today (24.7.68) issued the following statement:

The Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Inche Senu bin Abdul Rahman, has given a serious warning that tension had become high among a certain section of the population over the clemency appeal for the 11 men condemned to death for consorting with the Indonesian confrontationists.

We deplore in the strongest language possible such Ministerial statements, as they may have the effect of arousing tension in the country when there isn’t tension. Continue reading Senu’s “tension high” statement may heighten tension when there isn’t any

Senu dims hope for clemency plea for 11 Johore youths

The DAP Organising Secretary, Mr Lim Kit Siang, today (22.7.68) issued the following statement:

Disbelief, dismay and shock must have been the reaction of compassionate Malaysians today when they read about the speech by the UMNO Youth Leader, Inche Senu bin Abdul Rahman, yesterday that the plea for a stay of execution of the 11 youths in Johore made by the editorial of the Alliance Party Journal, the Alliance, does not represent the views of Alliance leaders .

In his speech to the annual delegates conference of the Kinta Utara UMNO Youth Division, Inche Senu has dimmed the hopes of the majority of Malaysians who wish to see these 11 youths spared the supreme penalty of death. Continue reading Senu dims hope for clemency plea for 11 Johore youths

Growing unemployment and mass retrenchments in the rubber industry

Talk by DAP Organizing Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the Batu Pahat DAP Branch first anniversary dinner in Batu Pahat, Johore on Sunday, July 21 at 8 p.m.

Over the months, thousands of estate workers have lost their jobs. At present another 5,000 are facing imminent retrenchment.

The retrenchment of workers in the rubber industry has reached crisis proportion. It is deplorable that the government has failed to take concrete, vigorous and imaginative action to deal with this problem, either by reducing the scale of retrenchments of finding alternative means of livelihood for the retrenched workers. Continue reading Growing unemployment and mass retrenchments in the rubber industry

The MCA’s MARA-types feeder college

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr Lim Kit Siang, to the Johore DAP State Committee at Kluang , Johore on Saturday, July 20 at 4 p.m. at a meeting to review party expansion in the state and election preparations:

The Chairman of MCA Working Team on Higher Education Planning, Mr. Khaw Khai Boh, called a press conference last Sunday to announce MCA plans for a $20million MARA-type feeder college for Chinese school leavers.

At the same press conference was the Minister of Education, Inche Khir bin Johari, who immediately announced the Alliance Government’s blessing for the MCA project and recognition of its qualifications. Continue reading The MCA’s MARA-types feeder college