Category: Constitution

Call on Malaysians who cherish democratic freedoms to fully support and sign the national petition to the Prime Minister to repeal the amendments to the Societies Act

Speech by Parliamentary Opposition Leader, DAP Secretary-General and MP for Petaling, Lim Kit Siang, to the Perak DAP State Committee meeting at Perak DAP state premises at Jalan Chamberlain, Ipoh on Friday, 29th May 1981 at 8 p.m.

Call on Malaysians who cherish democratic freedoms to fully support and sign the national petition to the Prime Minister to repeal the amendments to the Societies Act

Yesterday, the Chairman of the Co-ordinating Committee of Societies opposing the amendments to the Societies act, Anwar Ibrahim, and leaders of other societies and DAP leaders had a discussion about the amendments to the Societies Act, which had attracted widespread opposition by Malaysian societies and individuals for trampling on the fundamental rights of free speech and association of Malaysians. Continue reading Call on Malaysians who cherish democratic freedoms to fully support and sign the national petition to the Prime Minister to repeal the amendments to the Societies Act

DAP deplores the indecent haste of the Government in implementing the Societies Amendments

by Parliamentary Opposition Leader, DAP Secretary-General and MP for Petaling, Lim Kit Siang, on Saturday, 23rd May 1981:

DAP deplores the indecent haste of the Government in implementing the Societies Amendments

The DAP deplores the indecent haste with which the Barisan Nasional Government has implemented the amendments to the Societies Act and the Constitution. Continue reading DAP deplores the indecent haste of the Government in implementing the Societies Amendments

DAP deplores the indecent haste of the Government in implementing the Societies Amendments

by Parliamentary Opposition Leader, DAP Secretary-General and MP for Petaling, Lim Kit Siang, on Saturday, 23rd May 1981:

DAP deplores the indecent haste of the Government in implementing the Societies Amendments

The DAP deplores the indecent haste with which the Barisan Nasional Government has implemented the amendments to the Societies Act and the Constitution. Continue reading DAP deplores the indecent haste of the Government in implementing the Societies Amendments

The Final Usurpation of Powers

(Speech by Parliamentary Opposition Leader, DAP Secretary-General and MP for Petaling, Lim Kit Siang, when speaking in the Dewan Rakyat on Friday, 10th April 1981 on the Constitution (Amendment) Bill 1981)

The 1981 Constitution Amendments mark the final usurpation of the powers of the Legislature and the Judiciary where armed with the new emergency powers, the executive could legally abolish both Parliament and the Judiciary

Constitutional developments in Malaysia since Merdeka in 1957 marks the progressive usurpation of the powers of the Legislature and the Judiciary by the Executive, gravely upsetting the doctrine of the Separation of Powers and making a mockery of the concept of the Rule of Law, where the personal rights of a citizen, in particular fundamental rights of personal liberty, freedom of speech, assembly, association and belief, are protected by the Judiciary against arbitrary government. Continue reading The Final Usurpation of Powers

Removal of security of tenure of government servants

(Speech by the Parliamentary Leader, DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Petaling, Lim Kit Siang, in the Dewan Rakyat on the 1978 Constitution Amendment Bill on December 8, 1978)

Again, Parliament has been presented with another batch of proposed amendments to the Malaysian Constitution, relating to provisions on membership of the Senate, the rights of members of the public service on certain matters, membership of the Education Service Commission and legislation against “subversion and action prejudicial to public order”.

The proposed amendment to Article 135(2), which guarantees that no public servant would ever be arbitrarily dismissed, tantamounts to abolition of this guarantee. Continue reading Removal of security of tenure of government servants

DAP apologies to Sultan of Perak for unintended disrespect to him: Six DAP State Assemblymen to take oath of allegiance to Sultan of Perak

by Parliamentary Opposition Leader, DAP Secretary – General, Member of Parliament for Petaling, Lim Kit Siang, on 6.8.1978:

DAP apologies to Sultan of Perak for unintended disrespect to him: Six DAP State Assemblymen to take oath of allegiance to Sultan of Perak

I am surprised by what happened in the Perak State Assembly two days ago, where at the swearing in of the new State Assemblymen, six DAP Assemblymen did not take the oath of allegiance to the Head of State because the Perak State Constitution provides that a non – Perak national need not take such an oath. Continue reading DAP apologies to Sultan of Perak for unintended disrespect to him: Six DAP State Assemblymen to take oath of allegiance to Sultan of Perak

Call on Dato Hussein Onn and Barisan Nasional leaders to help de-polarise the country by not regarding the DAP votes

Speech by DAP Secretary-General, Member of Parliament for Petaling, Malacca State Assemblyman for Kubu, Lim Kit Siang, at a dinner organised by Kuala Lumpur Central Market stallholders and Ipoh Road wholesale market stallholders at Ming Court Restaurant, Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, 18th July 1978 at 8 p.m. to celebrate the election of Lim Kit Siang, Lee Lam Thye and V. David as Members of Parliament.

Call on Dato Hussein Onn and Barisan Nasional leaders to help de-polarise the country by not regarding the DAP votes as communal votes, but as Malaysian votes seeking legitimate changes in national policies by democratic and constitutional processes

In the 1978 general elections, the Barisan Nasional wanted to wipe out the DAP. This was why they resorted to all forms of undemocratic tactics, like the ban on public tallies which has been criticised also by the former Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman, the mass disqualification of candidates at Parliamentary and state assembly level, and the control of the mass media, particularly radio and television. Continue reading Call on Dato Hussein Onn and Barisan Nasional leaders to help de-polarise the country by not regarding the DAP votes

Federal take-over of Kelantan State Government proof of failure of Barisan National concept.

Speech by Parliamentary Opposition Leader and DAP Secretary-General Lim Kit Siang, at the 1,000-person dinner organised by the Perak State DAP on the occasion of its 11th Anniversary at the St. John Ambulance Hall, Ipoh, on Saturday, 12th November, 1977, at 6.00p.m.

Federal take-over of Kelantan State Government proof of failure of Barisan National concept.

When Barisan National was formed, its originators claimed that it represented the wave of the future, and that Barisan National was formed to reduce politiking and concentrate on development efforts. Continue reading Federal take-over of Kelantan State Government proof of failure of Barisan National concept.

Imposition of NOC-type of rule in Kelantan a subversion of the democratic basis of the Malaysian Constitution and DAP calls for general elections in Kelantan to return the mandate to the People of Kelantan.

Speech by Parliamentary Opposition Leader and DAP Secretary-General, Lim Kit Siang, in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday. Nov. 8, 1977 on the Bill to enable the Federal Government to take over the administration of the Kelantan Government.

Imposition of NOC-type of rule in Kelantan a subversion of the democratic basis of the Malaysian Constitution and DAP calls for general elections in Kelantan to return the mandate to the People of Kelantan.

I rise with a heavy heart, for what Parliament is about to do by invoking Article 150 of the Federal Constitution to suspend the Kelantan State Constitution and impose NOC-type of rule in the State is a subversion of the democratic basis of the Malaysian Constitution. Continue reading Imposition of NOC-type of rule in Kelantan a subversion of the democratic basis of the Malaysian Constitution and DAP calls for general elections in Kelantan to return the mandate to the People of Kelantan.

DAP calls for the establishment of a Human Rights Commission in Malaysia to receive and consider complaints about violation of human rights and to make findings

I regret that the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Barisan Nasional members who spoke have made it very clear that they would oppose this motion calling for the ratification of the International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights 1966.

The reasons that have been given by the Minister if Foreign Affairs, Tunku Rithaudeen, and the five other Barisan Nasional MPs who spoke, however, is most contradictory.

On the one hand, there are those like Tengku Rithaudeen, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, who claimed that the human tights contained in the 1966 International Covenant of Political and Civil Rights are already respected in Malaysia, and there is therefore no need to ratify the Covenant. Continue reading DAP calls for the establishment of a Human Rights Commission in Malaysia to receive and consider complaints about violation of human rights and to make findings