Category: Foreign Affairs

Need for liberal and statesmanlike approach to problem of education

Speech by DAP Secretary- General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit sang, to the DAP Negeri Sembilan State Sub- Committee in Seremban on Sunday, 1st April 1973 at 5 p.m.

1. Need for liberal and statesmanlike approach to problem of education in a multi- racial society like Malaysia.

Yesterday, we read in the press that the Australian Labour Government had decided to abolish fees for all Australian universities and colleges from Jan 1. 1974 and that Australian Federal Government would take over full responsibility for financing tertiary education in Australian.

In Malaysia, however, the Federal Government seems to be taking full responsibility for denying maximum education opportunities to Malaysian citizens who have ability and intelligences as illustrated by the recent shockingly high rate of mass failures in the M.C.E because of failure in Bahasa Malaysia paper.

The future of education of the present generation of Malaysian students is the burning issue of the day and the subject of discussion of all homes, coffee shops and meetings.

The Finance Minister, Tun Tan Siew Sin, said in Washington recently that to solve the present international monetary problems, instead of groping and floundering until the next crisis arises, “what is needed now and badly need too is the political will and the political courage to do what is right.” Continue reading Need for liberal and statesmanlike approach to problem of education

DAP hails complete ceasefire in Vietnam

DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, today issued the following statement (23.1.1973)

The Democratic Action Party joins the peace-loving people of the world in hailing the complete ceasefire in Vietnam announced simultaneously in Hanoi, Saigon and Washington.

The complete ceasefire in Vietnam marks a turning point in the history of the twentieth century. It rings down the curtain of an era where a super-power can dictate the destiny of another nation, however small and undeveloped, by sheer brute force and material plenty.

The Vietnamese ceasefire is in fact a triumph of ideas over bullets, of resolution and human tenacity over all the arsenal of death which modern science has harnessed to rain down on man from the skies, the seas and the land.

More bombs have been drooped in small Vietnam than the First and Second World War put together. All the B52s, napalm bombs, tanks, backed by the richest treasury in the world, could not cow however a small, economically-backward Asian people but was instead fought to a standstill and stalemate. Continue reading DAP hails complete ceasefire in Vietnam

DAP Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, will ask the following questions when Parliament meets on Monday

DAP Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, will ask the following questions when Parliament meets on Monday.

1. To ask the Prime Minister to report whether there had been any progress in the last three months towards the normalization of relationship between Malaysia and the People’s Republic of China; and whether the Malaysian Government is considering calling an ASEAN meeting to propose an ASEAN initiative to normalise relationship between the People’s Republic of China and the ASEAN nations in view of Premier Tanaka of Japan’s visit to Peking which has further opened up new possibilities in international relations in the world, and particularly in South East Asia. Continue reading DAP Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, will ask the following questions when Parliament meets on Monday

DAP calls on Malaysian Government to be firm in its dealings with the Indonesian Government to protect Malaysian fishermen from piracy from armed, uniformed naval Indonesian personnel

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, when he officially opened the Kampong Simee DAP Branch in Ipoh on Sunday, 13th August 1972 at 4.30 p.m.

DAP calls on Malaysian Government to be firm in its dealings with the Indonesian Government to protect Malaysian fishermen from piracy from armed, uniformed naval Indonesian personnel

Last night, when attending the DAP public rally at Pulau Pangkor, I had occasion to learn from first hand the hardship and sufferings of the fishermen of Pulau Pangkor, particularly caused by the piracy in the high seas. Continue reading DAP calls on Malaysian Government to be firm in its dealings with the Indonesian Government to protect Malaysian fishermen from piracy from armed, uniformed naval Indonesian personnel

DAP calls for immediate government initiative to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, when officiating at the opening ceremony of the Tangkak DAP branch in Johore on Sunday, 30th July 1972 at 4.30 p.m.

DAP calls for immediate government initiative to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.

In the last 18 months, the People’s Republic of China has shown goodwill and friendship towards Malaysia, as shown by the following: Continue reading DAP calls for immediate government initiative to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.

DAP calls for immediate government action to protect the life, property and livelihood of Malaysians fisherman from armed Indonesian pirates

DAP calls for immediate government action to protect the life, property and livelihood of Malaysians fisherman from armed Indonesian pirates

My colleague, Sdr. Phung Teik Hwa, the Perak DAP State Assemblymen for Lumut, whose constituents include the fisherman at Pangkor Island, has again written to Government urging the authorities to take positive action to protect the life, property and livelihood of Malaysian fisherman from harassment and piracy of armed Indonesian patrol boats. Continue reading DAP calls for immediate government action to protect the life, property and livelihood of Malaysians fisherman from armed Indonesian pirates

DAP calls for a high-powered committee to study into the economic effects of the construction of a canal at Isthmus of Kra

DAP calls for a high-powered committee to study into the economic effects of the construction of a canal at Isthmus of Kra

The Thai military government has decided to build a $1,200 million canal at the Isthmus of Kra, which will take nine years to complete.

The Thai government predicted that the canal would draw away 50 per cent of the tankers and one-third of the cargo ships now using the Straits of Malacca.

The Deputy Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Ismail, said yesterday before leaving for Bangkok that the Isthmus of Kra canal would not do Malaysia ‘any harm’.

The DAP calls on the Government not to take an indifferent attitude to the proposed construction of the Isthmus of Kra canal, although it would take nine years before the completion of the project, by which time most of the leading Ministers would not be around in government.

The Government should immediately appoint a high-powered committee of inquiry to inquire into the effects of the proposed Isthmus of Kra canal on Malaysian trade, shipping and economy.

It is better and a more responsible attitude for the present Government to inquire into all the aspects of the construction of a Kra canal could have on Malaysian economy, than for Malaysians nine years later to be caught unprepared.

The off-hand attitude shown by Tun Ismail that the Isthmus of Kra Canal would not harm Malaysia is highly disturbing, unless the Cabinet had already commissioned a finding into the possible effects of the Kra canal on the Malaysian economy, trade and shipping. If so, then the Government should release the findings of such a study.

The building of the Isthmus of Kra canal shows the need for more meaningful ASEAN spirit to be shown by members countries of the South East Asian grouping, where the action of one would have consequences on the economy or livelihood of the people of another. It is clear that the decision to construct the Isthmus of Kra canal was taken without any prior knowledge by the Malaysian Government let alone consultation. This does not augur well for a successful operation of the ASEAN.

DAP welcome the joint communiqué between North and South Korea on reunification

DAP welcome the joint communiqué between North and South Korea on reunification

The DAP welcomes the joint communiqué by North and South Korea which agreed to the reunification of the country by peaceful means and not by the use of force, and through independent Korean efforts without external imposition or interference.

It is another step in the lessening of tension in Asia and the world. Continue reading DAP welcome the joint communiqué between North and South Korea on reunification

DAP condemns American bombing in North Vietnam and mining of North Vietnamese ports and call for their immediate halt and total American withdrawal from Vietnam

DAP condemns American bombing in North Vietnam and mining of North Vietnamese ports and call for their immediate halt and total American withdrawal from Vietnam

The DAP deplores and condemns the American bombing of North Vietnam and the mining of North Vietnamese ports.

It is a dangerous escalation of a war which will bring Asia and the world closer to a Third World War. Continue reading DAP condemns American bombing in North Vietnam and mining of North Vietnamese ports and call for their immediate halt and total American withdrawal from Vietnam

Truth’s eventual triumph in human affairs

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, when addressing the Negri Sembilan DAP State Sub-Committee at a meeting held at DAP Seremban Branch on Tuesday, 29th February 1972 at 4 p.m.

Truth’s eventual triumph in human affairs

The world has just seen the end of mankind’s most significant and historic visit. For the teeming millions all over the world, who wish peace to war, co-operation to conflict among nations to solve mankind’s basic and intractable problems of hunger poverty, backwardness, ignorance and disease, President Nixon’s landing on China is more momentous and important than man’s first landing on the moon. Continue reading Truth’s eventual triumph in human affairs