Category: Nation Building

Malaysia Chinese must exercise their political rights if they are not to be aliens in the land of their birth

Speech by Ketua Pembangkang and DAP Secretary-General, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, at a DAP seminar organized by the Chinese education sub-committee held at Perak DAP State premises at Jalan Kampar, Ipoh, on Sunday, 7th Oct. 1973 at 10 a.m.

Malaysia Chinese must exercise their political rights if they are not to be aliens in the land of their birth

At a MCA party function on Sept. 18, the Selangor MCA Chairman, Tan Sri Lee Siok Yew, said that “directly and indirectly, the Chinese in Malaysia had received several blows making them feel psychologically that they are second-class citizens.”

There is no better remark that this to sum up the result of twenty years’ of MCA political activity. This explains why the MCA is held in such utter discredit and contempt among the masses.

Only last Sunday, we read in the press of a MCA Senator and new Deputy Minister, in Sitiawan calling on the Malaysian Chinese to unite behind the MCA so that the “Chinese are represented with one voice” inside the government.

This argument, which sounded attractive superficially, is not a new one. In fact, other people, only more recently more in the limelight than him, had made the same calls and have ended up being expelled from the MCA. This Senator’s own promotion to be Deputy Minister is a reward for his defecting from the ranks of his former colleagues, and siding the right group at a critical time. In fact, it would be pertinent to ask this Senator Deputy Minister, how much is ‘Chinese Unity’ worth against a Deputy Ministership. Continue reading Malaysia Chinese must exercise their political rights if they are not to be aliens in the land of their birth

DAP calls for full 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, at the National Day and anniversary reception of Muar DAP Branch in Muar on Sunday, 2nd September 1973 at 2p.m

DAP calls on Tun Razak to act bravely and decisively by forthwith establishing full diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China

Although in the last two years, there has been some increase in limited contacts between Malaysia and the People’s Republic of China in the fields of trade and sports, Malaysia is still a long way off from the full normalization of relations between Kuala Lumpur and Peking.

In his Hari Kebangsaan message, the Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak said Malaysia was waiting for the right time for the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. This was the Alliance government’s position in the previous years as well. It is highly regrettable that there has not been distinct progress make in this direction.

During the nineteen fifties and sixties, Malaysia looked at foreign affairs through American spectacles, and she was even persuaded to regard herself as one of the American led crusaders against the Communists Chinese government.
Continue reading DAP calls for full diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China

The 1972 National Day Theme “Masyarakat Adil” a big failure

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr.Lim Kit Siang at the Pudu / Bukit Bintang Solidarity Dinner held at Mak Yee Restaurant on 29th August, 1973 at 7.00p.m.

The 1972 National Day Theme “Masyarakat Adil” a big failure

In another two days, Malaysia will be celebrating her 16th birthday. The Alliance Government has announced that for this year’s National Day, the theme would be Masyarakat Berkebudayaan Malaysia.

Last year, the Alliance Government’s National Day theme was Masyarakat Adil which Alliance leaders claimed would be the Government’s guiding principle of all Government policies and actions for the following 12 months. It would be fitting, on the eve of the end of 12 months of “Masyarakat Adil” theme, that we assess whether in the last one year, there had been greater social justice or the reverse.

A general survey of the economic, educational and social life of Malaysians in the last one year indicates that Alliance Government’s “Masyarakat Adil” theme is a great failure. Social injustices and inequities had increased over the months.
Continue reading The 1972 National Day Theme “Masyarakat Adil” a big failure

Razak’s Malaysian Malaysia

Speech by Opposition Leader, DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament of Bandar Melaka, Mr.Lim Kit Siang, at the meeting of Perak DAP State officials, branch leaders at Perak Branch in Ipoh, Perak on Sunday, 18 August 1973.at 10.30a.m.

1. Call on the Prime Minister to hold an inquiry into the problem of racial polarisation among undergraduates in the University of Malaya.

In a speech to a student leadership training seminar last year, the late Tun Dr.Ismal said that Malaysia did not belong to any one racial group and warned of the dangers of polarisation among students and under-graduates.

The problem of polarisation among students and undergraduates should be a matter of grave national concern, and should merit the attention from the highest quarters in government.

The events in the University of Malaya campus in the past week highlighted the seriousness of this problem. Continue reading Razak’s Malaysian Malaysia

Malaysians must expect political changes for the next 12 months

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr.Lim Kit Siang, to a joint meeting of Bukit Bintang and Pudu DAP Branches at Pudu branch premises on Friday, 10th August 1973 at 8.30p.m.

The next 12 months will see considerable political changes in the country.

The death of the late Tun Dr.Ismal will cause not only a cabinet reshuffle, but a new alignment of political forces particularly in the UMNO.

Unlike the MCA and MIC, which in the past year or more had alternately amused, entertained and disgusted the public with their antics of power struggle, a considerable part of this realignment of political forces in the UMNO will take place behind-the-scene. But though this is going to attract less publicity, it will have an important bearing on the future direction of the national policy, just as whatever outcome of the MCA or MIC antics will not affect one iota the directions of the country.

Although temporarily, there will be outward show of unity and harmony, this will not be able to hide the intensity of the moves and counter-moves behind the scene. It is unlikely that the shape of the new alignment of political forces will become clear in the near future. Continue reading Malaysians must expect political changes for the next 12 months

A more just and equal, democratic socialist Malaysia where all poor and have-nots can cease to be poor and have-not

Speech by DAP Secretary-General and Member of Parliament for Bandar Melaka, Mr. Lim Kit Siang, to party members before starting a tour of the Bukit Raja constituency on Saturday, 10th March 1973 at 2.30 p.m. He accompanied during the tour by the Member of Parliament and State Assemblyman for the constituency, Sdr. Hor Cheok Foon (M.P. for Damansara) and Sdr. K. Ramasen (State Assemblyman for Bukit Raja).

The DAP will continue undeterred to fight for a more just and equal, democratic socialist Malaysia where all poor and have-nots can cease to be poor and have-not

The DAP, despite some setbacks in the past two years, is inflexibly committed to the objective of striving for a more just and equal, democratic socialist Malaysia.

The burning issues in Malaysia today have, and must remain, that of poverty, economic backwardness and deprivation of opportunities for all Malaysian to lead a fulfilling life whether on economic, educational, cultural or political level.

It is this commitment to a democratic socialist Malaysia that guided our performance in Parliament right from the beginning. Continue reading A more just and equal, democratic socialist Malaysia where all poor and have-nots can cease to be poor and have-not

Coalition Politics in Malaysia

Coalition politics seems to have become the latest political fashion and trend in Malaysia. It has become the talking point of the country – as confirmed by this evening’s forum – especially with the impending coalition negotiations between UMNO and PAS, and today’s press report that the Gerakan may dissolve itself to join the MCA.

Coalition politics is not new in Malaysia. In fact, the Alliance Party is itself a coalition of three communal political parties, or to be more correct, between UMNO on the one hand, and the MCA and MIC on the other. Continue reading Coalition Politics in Malaysia

Democratisation of Malaysian Life

From the Yang diPertuan Agong’s Royal Address, we are confirmed in our belief that the Government has not come to grips with the basic political, economic, social, cultural and educational policies to drift towards national perdition.

There is no vision of a great Malaysia tomorrow. There is only petty pre-occupation with the tools of power today.

Slogan-shouting has taken command of the seats of government, displacing thinking and reason. Continue reading Democratisation of Malaysian Life

Democratisation of Malaysian life

From the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s Royal Address, we are confirmed in our belief that the government has not come to grips with the basic political, economic, social, cultural and educational problems in the country, which is today the burning issue for the people of Malaysia.

We continue blindly, in our political, economic, social, cultural and educational policies to drift towards national perdition.

There is no vision of a great Malaysia tomorrow. There is only pretty pre-occupation with the tools of power today. Continue reading Democratisation of Malaysian life

The Second Malaysia Plan 1970-1975

First of all, this House should note that we are not debating the Development Plan for the next five years, but for the next four-and-a-half years. Six months of this Five-year Second Malaysia Plan have already passed before this Plan comes before this House. This speaks most eloquently for the authoritarian nature of the present government, which professes democratic rule. What this House and co country think, feel and decide do not matter. The Alliance Government has decided, and this is that.

The Second Five-year Plan opens with this passage:

“National unity is the over-riding objective of the country…..This direction toward national unity and progress is fundamental to the New Economic Policy. The Second Malaysia Plan, based on this Policy, is designed to facilitate the achievement of the national objective”. Continue reading The Second Malaysia Plan 1970-1975