Category: Democracy

Dato Ong Kee Hui gives assurance to DAP

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP protest public rally against proposed abolition of elected local government held at Suleiman Court, Kuala Lumpur on Saturday, 9th October 1971 at 8 p.m.

Dato Ong Kee Hui gives assurance to DAP that there will be debate in Parliament on government’s proposed abolition of elected Municipal, town and local councils

The Minister of Technology, Research and Local Government, Dato Ong Kee Hui, has given an assurance that there will be a debate in the coming Parliament, which begins on 8th December and will go on to 4th February, on the government’s proposed abolition of elected Municipal, town and local councils.

Dato Ong gave this assurance in a reply to my letter to him two weeks ago seeking confirmation that Parliament will be given an opportunity at its next meeting to debate the issue. Continue reading Dato Ong Kee Hui gives assurance to DAP

Government White Paper on “The Resurgence of Armed Communism in West Malaysia”

Extracts of a talk by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a political discussion organized by the Malacca DAP State Division held at 33A Jln. Munshi Abdullah, Malacca on Tuesday, 5th Oct. 1971 at 7.30 p.m.

Government White Paper on “The Resurgence of Armed Communism in West Malaysia”

In its White Paper on “The Resurgence of Armed Communism in the country, however, is not a military one, but a political one.
History has given us countless examples, the latest of which is Vietnam, that ideas cannot be defeated by bullets, but only by better ideas.

The only way to meet and overcome the armed communist challenge is to have a genuine democracy in the country, where every Malaysians,
regardless of race or class, will unite to help preserve the society that they cherish. Continue reading Government White Paper on “The Resurgence of Armed Communism in West Malaysia”

The true counter to communism in Malaysia is a genuine democracy

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a Johore DAP State tea-party held at Kluang DAP Branch premises on Saturday, October 2 1971 at 6 p.m. to make the first anniversary of Lim Kit Siang’s release from political detention.

The true counter to communism in Malaysia is a genuine democracy

The Deputy Prime Minister, Tun (Dr.) Ismail bin Dato Abdul Rahman, said in Ipoh yesterday that there are three groups of people on the side of the communists:

i. those who are threatened or forced to help the communists;

ii. those who side the communists because they are discontented with the democratic process or certain ills of government; and

iii. the die-hard communists. Continue reading The true counter to communism in Malaysia is a genuine democracy

DAP to launch nation-wide protest rallies

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a public rally at Seremban padang on Saturday, 25th Sept. 1971 at 7.30p.m.

DAP to launch nation-wide protest rallies against proposed government abolition of elected Municipal, town and local councils
The government’s move to abolish elected Municipal, town and local councils is the latest in a long series undemocratic Alliances measures to deny the people of Malaysia meaningful democratic rights.

The MCA must bear the greatest responsibility for the government’s decision to abolish elected local government. In fact, the MCA is the real murderer of grass-roots democracy in Malaysia.

After the 1969 general elections, where the MCA candidates were decisively rejected by the electorate, the MCA realized that it has lost out to the Opposition because of its own history of political dishonesty, corruption and immorality. Continue reading DAP to launch nation-wide protest rallies

DAP deplores and condemns government decision to abolish local authorities in Malaysia

Press Conference Statement in Parliament House Committee Room 2 at 5.30 p.m.

DAP deplores and condemns government decision to abolish local authorities in Malaysia

The Democratic Action Party deplores and condemns government decision to abolish local authorities in Malaysia.

It is even more regrettable that this government decision was made public in the form of a Ministerial statement in the Dewan Ra’ayat today by the Minister of Technology, Research and Local Government, Dato Ong Kee Hui, where Members of Parliament has no chance to debate.

The DAP calls on the Minister to immediately table the Athi Nahappan Report and to give Members of Parliament a chance to debate a matter which concerns the life and death of grass-roots democracy in Malaysia. Continue reading DAP deplores and condemns government decision to abolish local authorities in Malaysia

Socialist International Council Conference in Helsinki

Speech by Secretary-General of Democratic Action Party, Lim Kit Siang, at the Socialist International Council Conference in Helsinki on May 25, 1971

First of all, I wish to take this opportunity to personally, as well as on behalf of my party, to thank the Socialist International, the International General Secretary, Comrade Janistchek, and the sister parties of the international for their close concern and deep interest over my detention by the Malaysian feudal-compradore Alliance government immediately after the 1969 general elections on May 10, which saw my party, the Democratic Action Party, standing for the cause of democratic socialism, emerged as the strongest opposition party in the Malaysian Parliament and with the most number of elected State Assemblymen in the country.

It was a source of great comfort and encouragement to me during the 17 months I was under arbitrary detention without the benefit of an open trial, to know that outside the four walls of the detention camp, I had not only the support and solidarity of millions of Malaysians, but also of the Socialist International and its affiliated parties. Continue reading Socialist International Council Conference in Helsinki

The last chance for democracy in Malaysia

Speech by DAP Secretary General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a dinner given by Penang DAP at Sun Hoe Penang Restaurant on Sunday, Nov. 22 1970 at 8pm.

The last chance for democracy in Malaysia

I am overwhelmed by the great reception given by Penang DAP members and the public on the occasion of my unconditional release from detention.

One reason why I was able to withstand the test I underwent during my 16-month long detention was my knowledge and confidence that although I has lost personal freedom, outside the Muar Detention Camp, I had the support of millions of Malaysians to share with me and the DAP the same aspirations for a democratic socialist Malaysian Malaysia, and for which I was being detained. Continue reading The last chance for democracy in Malaysia

All-party debate on Rukunegara

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and M.P. for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a reception given by Malacca DAP at Malacca Town Hall on Sunday, 18th Oct. 1970 at 11 a.m.

All-party debate on Rukunegara

In Penang last Wednesday, I suggested a public discussion and debate, including over radio and television, on Rukunegara.

For this suggestion, I was attacked and threatened by some quarters who regard such a proposal anti-national and criminal. It may be that to these people, the Sedition Act should cover the Rukunegara and all other issues where differences of views may arise between the government and the governed. Continue reading All-party debate on Rukunegara

RUKUNEGARA

Statement by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Lim Kit Siang, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a press conference at Penang Bayan Lepas airport on Wednesday, 14 Oct. 1970 at 9.30p.m.

RUKUNEGARA

The Alliance government and the Gerakan Ra’ayat Malaysia have jointly worked out a national ideology, or Rukunegara, for the people of Malaysia.

We in the DAP have no part in the formulation of the Rukunegara. But as far back as in 1966, I have had the opportunity to write in the DAP organ, the Rocket, that the people of Malaysia should reach a common set of fundamental objectives on nation building, a national consensus, to ensure a united, peaceful and prosperous Malaysia. Continue reading RUKUNEGARA

Can democracy work in Malaysia

Statement by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Lim Kit Siang, at a press conference in Ipoh on Tuesday, 13th Oct. 1970.

Since my release from detention on Oct. 1, I have visited all the West coast states (except Penang where I am going later today), and the question uppermost in the people’s mind is whether democracy can work in Malaysia.

The general elections of May 10, 1969, was the high-water mark of democracy in Malaysia. After the announcement of the results, there was a new mood in the country, a new hope that democracy may after all work and bring about change and progress.

But within three days, the country was plunged into her darkest days, and democracy virtually pronounced dead. Continue reading Can democracy work in Malaysia