Category: Democracy

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

Teachers and Politics

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr.Lim Kit Siang, when addressing the Selangor State Committee meeting at Kuala Lumpur DAP Branch premises on Sunday, 5.1.69 at 10a.m.

The Ministry of Education has sacked Inche Kassim Ahmad, national chairman of Party Rakyat, as a graduate teacher of Sekolah Abdullah Munshi in Penang.

It is clear that Inche Kassim Ahmad’s dismissal was because of his activity in an opposition party. If Inche Kassim Ahmad’s had been active in the UMNO, say as Penang UMNO Chairman, he would never have been sacked.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of teachers who are active UMNO, MCA and MIC members and ward leaders, whose political activity are not only encouraged by the ruling party, but who have been awarded P.P.M.s and other titles for their ‘contributions’ to the Alliance.

These Alliance teachers can never be wrong, and are given a blank cheque to do what they want.

But teachers who wish to join and be active in opposition parties are harassed, intimidated and even victimized by the Ministry of Education. Continue reading Teachers and Politics

DAP condemns Alliance government move to amend Constitution to freeze by-elections

The DAP Organising Secretary, Mr.Lim Kit Siang, today issued the following statement (4.1.69):

The DAP condemns the Alliance government for its move to amend the Constitution at the next sitting of Parliament, beginning next week, to freeze by-elections until the general elections. Only an undemocratic and irresponsible government will contemplate such a move.

The reasons that have been given by Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Abdul Razak in justification for freezing by elections are flimsy, frivolous and do not bear examination.

Tunku Abdul Rahman and Tun Abdul Razak said by elections “cost money”, “will in convenience the public” and “embarrass the government.” And that as general elections would be held later this year, it is not necessary to hold by election.

The excuse about money is most ridiculous. Every by election costs money. The general elections cost even more money.

If the Alliance is allowed to set the precedent to tinker with the Constitution and freeze by-elections, in five or ten years’ time, when the Alliance faces the possibility of losing federal power, it will argue that general elections coasts even more money and amend the Constitution to freeze general elections. Continue reading DAP condemns Alliance government move to amend Constitution to freeze by-elections

The MCA – Pawns of Malay racialists

Speech by DAP Candidate for Serdang State by-election, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, who is also DAP Organising Secretary, at the third DAP Serdang by-election public rally held at Serdang Bahru new village on Saturday, 7th December 1968 at 8 p.m.

I read Mr. Michael Chen’s speech at the first Alliance rally in Serdang Bahru two nights ago with great shock, sadness and sorrow.

I am shocked by what Mr. Michael Chen said in his speech, and I am saddened because Mr. Michael Chen, who is a very likeable man, should really believe what he said. Continue reading The MCA – Pawns of Malay racialists

Serdang’s 20 Points – DAP by-election pledge

Speech by the DAP candidate for the Serdang State by-election, Mr. Lim Kit Siang who is also DAP Organising Secretary, at the first DAP by-election rally at Salak South New Village on Sunday, December 1, 1968 at 8 p.m

The Democratic Action Party has entered the Serdang by-election to help bring about a new Malaysia where there is socialist and cultural democracy.

We want a socialist democracy because we want to end the economic and social exploitation of man by man, class by class, or race by race.

We want a cultural democracy because we stand for equality and justice for all races, languages and cultures. Continue reading Serdang’s 20 Points – DAP by-election pledge

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

Malaysia in danger of becoming a “second Nigeria”

The Organising Secretary of the Democratic Action Party, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, last night spoke of the danger of a ‘second Nigeria’ in Malaysia if Malaysians could not discuss and solve the racial problem in the country in a sober, intelligent and rational manner.

Mr. Lim was speaking to the Penang DAP Branch in Bishop Street here on “Have We learnt from the Lessons of the Racial Disturbances in Penang and North Malaya last year?”, to which his reply was ‘No’.

Mr. Lim said that until January 1966, Nigeria in Africa and Malaysia in Asia were held up as shining examples of multi-ethnic democracies. Continue reading Malaysia in danger of becoming a “second Nigeria”

The Alliance claims that it practices democracy. But is this claim borne out by practice?

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the DAP Segamat Utara Parliamentary by-election, at Buloh Kasap, Segamat, on October 15, 1968 at 8 p.m.

In the Segamat Utara Parliamentary by-election, the Alliance can have three rallies in one night. But when the DAP applies for having two rallies in one night, this is refused on the ground that the police does not have enough tape-recorders. Continue reading The Alliance claims that it practices democracy. But is this claim borne out by practice?

“Do as I say but don’t do as I do”

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kim Siang, at the Pudu DAP branch on Monday, June 17 at 8 p.m. Pudu DAP Branch is the latest branch in Selangor to be registered. It is the 15th branch in the Selangor.

The Minister of Education, Inche Khir bin Johari, has called on teacher’s union to draw up a code of ethics as soon as possible.

He claimed that there are many “unethical practices” among teachers.

Inche Khir bin Johari is deliberately vague about his charges of “unethical practices.”

Unless these “unethical practices” are spelt out publicly, Inche Khir bin Johari’s charge can only be regarded as his latest in a long series of attempts to demoralise and undermine public confidence in the teachers. This can benefit no one, apart from, Inche Khir bin Johari. Continue reading “Do as I say but don’t do as I do”

The Malaysian Malaysia

Talk by Dap Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the establishment of the DAP Protem Committee in Kahang (12 miles from Kluang) Johore on Sunday, May 12 at 11 a.m.

The DAP was formed to make every citizen of this country proud to be a Malaysian.

The way to instill national pride among the citizens is not through a policy of racial discrimination or economic and social injustice, or by dividing the people into bumiputeras and non-bumiputeras. It is by giving equality of rights to all Malaysians, whether in economic activity, job opportunity, education, language or culture.

If the nation we are building in Malaysia is to become a Malay, Chinese or Indian nation, then the majority of the citizens will not be proud to be Malaysians.

Only a Malaysian Malaysia, where there is multi-racialism, multi-cultural tolerance, social and economic justice, can instill national pride and the sense of national belonging into the citizens of this country. Continue reading The Malaysian Malaysia