Complaints by the people of Tenang

Press Statement by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang on 9th October 1971.

Complaints by the people of Tenang

While on a visit to the Tenang DAP Branch in Segamat, district, Johore, last week, I received several complaints and representations about government neglect of the welfare of the people of Tenang.

For instance, the public telephone booth and the postal box had been spoilt for nearly two years, and had not been replaced, causing great inconvenience to the poor villagers of Tenang.

I have written to the telephone and postal authorities drawing their attention to the matter.

There were also complaints of misuse of public funds. I have written to the Director of Anti-Corruption Agency of Johore to investigate into a serious allegation of improper allocation of land in Tenang. The land was not allocated to the Tenang villagers, but to Segamat towns-people who are members of the ruling party. This is clearly abuse and improper allocation of land.

DAP proposes a three-point guideline for State Governments in granting title to new villagers

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr Lim Kit Siang, at the inaugural meeting of the DAP Johor State New Villages Sub-Committee held at Kluang DAP Branch on Saturday, October 2, 1971 at 5pm

DAP proposes a three-point guideline for State Governments in granting title to new villagers

The Perak State Government has announced steps to grant titles to new villagers, beginning with Bukit Merah New Village near Ipoh, the temporary occupation licenses (TOL) will not be renewed. New villagers must apply for the qualified titles before the end of the year, failing which their houses are liable to be demolished and the land re-possessed.

Perak Mentri Besar, Dato’ Haki Kamaruddin, has said only a quarter of the 31,600 households in Perak’s 96 new villages have applied for titles because of economic reasons. A Temporary Occupation License (TOL) is cheaper, cost only $10 a year. While the premium payable for a qualified title ranges from several hundred dollars to a few thousand dollars, depending on each State. Continue reading DAP proposes a three-point guideline for State Governments in granting title to new villagers

Hamid Tuah and landlessness

Speech by DAP Secretary-General, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at the general meeting of the Kuala Klawang DAP Branch at 3 p.m. on Saturday, 31st July 1971 in Negri Sembilan

Hamid Tuah and landlessness

In Parliament yesterday, the Minister for National and Rural Development, Inche Ghafar Baba, in attempting to justify the detention of peasant leader, Hamid Tuah, under the Internal Security Act, said that the government could not allow people to open up land without government permission.

He said: “If this were allowed, only the rich would become richer. The poor could only open up land with their bare hands whereas the rich could clear vast areas in no time because they had money.” Continue reading Hamid Tuah and landlessness

DAP calls for legalisation of existing squatter areas to solve squatter problem.

Speech by DAP Organising Secretary, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a tea party at Puchong 14.m.s on Sunday, 5th January 1969 at 6p.m. to thank Serdang by-election workers and supporters of DAP

The granting of land to the landless, regardless of race, was the first of the DAP’s Serdang Twenty Points, which constituted the DAP’s by-election pledge. Throughout the by-election campaign, the DAP campaigned for a speedy, liberal and humans solution to the grave landless and squatter problem in Selangor and Malaysia.

In Kuala Lumpur alone, there are about 200,000 squatters. People become squatters not because they are born squatters, just as people become thieves, burglars and robbers, not because they are born thieves, burglars and robbers.

They are all victims of social forces beyond their individual control. They become squatters because they could not afford renting a house or buying a piece of land, as they are unemployed or underemployed.

The grave squatter problem in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor is a reflection of the grave failure of the social and economic policy of the Alliance government to provide a decent life for every Malaysian. Continue reading DAP calls for legalisation of existing squatter areas to solve squatter problem.

Lim Kit Siang replies to Mr. Michael Chen

The DAP Candidate for Serdang State by-election, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, who is also DAP Organising Secretary, today (24.12.68) issued the following statement in reply to Mr. Michael Chen.

Mr. Michael Chen did not deny that before December 10, 1968, he had promised the three Yap families that they would be allowed to continue to live on their land, and grow their fruit trees.

Mr. Michael Chen talks about being a gentleman. Surely one of the qualities of a gentleman is to keep one’s promise.

Mr. Michael Chen said there is no law in Malaysia to compel the State Government to pay compensation to the three Yap families. But there is no law in Malaysia to forbid payment of compensation.

It is a question of social conscience and social justice. I know Mr. Michael Chen is a lawyer, and that the law has been made used off by the rich and privileged to bully the weak and the defenceless. Continue reading Lim Kit Siang replies to Mr. Michael Chen

Squatters and landless in Selangor

Speech by DAP Serdang State by-election candidate, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, and DAP Organising Secretary, at a DAP by-election rally at Puchong 14 m. s. on Friday 20th December 1968 at 8 p.m.

Squatters and landless in Selangor

Two days ago, I urge the Alliance Selangor State Government to act with humanity and compassion when dealing with poor villagers.

I was referring in particular to the case if 20 odd Chinese and Indian families at Puchong, whom the State Government was going to evict from their land, demolish their houses and destroy their fruit trees without compensation or alternative land sites. Continue reading Squatters and landless in Selangor

A plea for a government with humanity and understanding of the hardship of the people

A plea for a government with humanity and understanding of the hardship of the people

Yesterday, while on my house-to-house visit in Puchong, 13 m. s., I came across another instance of the cruelty, heartlessness and inhumanity of the Alliance State Government.

At the Puchong 13 m. s., there were about 20 Chinese and Indian families, who face imminent eviction from their land, and demolition of their houses and destruction of their fruit trees by the State Government, because their land had been allocated to Malays.

A visit to these houses will show the poverty, hardship and misery of rural folks in Malaysia, whether Malay, Chinese or Indian. Continue reading A plea for a government with humanity and understanding of the hardship of the people

A question for Mr. Michael Chen

Speech by DAP Candidate for Serdang State by-election, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, who is also DAP Organising Secretary, at the sixth DAP Serdang by-election rally at Salak South new village on Saturday, 14th December 1968.

A question for Mr. Michael Chen

A week ago, I asked the Alliance candidate, Mr. Thuan Phaik Phok, whether he support the DAP stand that “land does not belong to any one race or community, but belong to the nation, and should be given to Malaysian landless, regardless of race.”

Instead of giving a straightforward answer, Mr. Thuan tried to point out that there is a contradiction in the statement. Continue reading A question for Mr. Michael Chen

Land for the landless

Speech by DAP Candidates for Serdang State By-election, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, who is also DAP Organising Secretary, at the second DAP Serdang by-election public rally held at Puchong 14 milestone on Friday, 6th December 1968 at 8 p.m.

On December 1, 1968, at the first DAP Serdang by-election public rally, I made a pledge on behalf of the DAP – known as the DAP’s Serdang Twenty Points – which spelt out the social, economic and cultural objectives the DAP will strive for the benefit of the people.

Point One of the Serdang Twenty Points called for “Land to be given to all landless, regardless of race. The only yardstick should be need.”

Malaysia has vast tracts of arable land which have not been opened up. But with every passing year, the problem of unemployment and underemployment intensifies, while the army of landless multiplies.

One major way to solve the problem of unemployment and underemployment in a land-rich country like Malaysia is to give land to the landless, which will have three beneficial results, in (1) strengthening Malaysia’s agricultural base; (2) earn more national income for the country; and (3) provide work and a means of livelihood for the thousands of landless and unemployed. Continue reading Land for the landless

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