Nearly half a century ago, a band of Malaysians came together and despite considerable difficulties and obstacles, succeeded on March 18, 1966 to register the Democratic Action Party (DAP) as a new political party to rally and mobilise Malaysians behind our call for a Malaysian Malaysia.

Transcending ethnic, religious and socio-economic differences, this band of idealistic Malaysians, regardless of whether Malays, Chinese or Indians, shared a common vision and Malaysian Dream – a Malaysia for all Malaysians regardless of race, religion, class or region where democracy, good governance and socio-economic justice could flourish to allow every Malaysian to achieve his or her fullest potential for the collective good and greatness of the nation.

In the past 47 years, DAP had traversed a long political road, with many DAP leaders and stalwarts tested to the limits of their convictions undergoing many trials and tribulations.

While many had fallen by the wayside, the party had kept faith and stayed true of our founding principles of freedom, justice, solidarity, integrity and good governance.

We became the first Pan-Malaysian political party in the country, active not only in Peninsular Malaysia, but also represented at both the Parliamentary and State Assembly levels in Sabah and Sarawak.

We have now 38 elected MPs, two Senators and 106 State Assembly representatives in the country.

DAP had contested in 10 general elections, but it is only in the last two general elections – the 12GE in 2008 and 13GE in 2013 – that the impossible seemed possible as with PKR and PAS in the Pakatan Rakyat, Malaysians are within reach of effecting a political transformation not only at the state level, as in Penang, Selangor and Kelantan, but also at the federal level in Putrajaya.

In fact, based on popular vote in the 13GE, Pakatan Rakyat should form the national government of the day.

The road to Putrajaya, although no more impossible, still requires great commitment, loyalty to principles, integrity and sense of purpose to accomplish.

My message to DAP veterans is: Keep faith with the Malaysian Dream – the ration d’etre of the DAP for 47 years.

The greatest challenge to DAP veterans is how to help the DAP to accomplish this journey to Putrajaya in the campaign – Putrajaya in 14th GE.

(Speech by DAP Parliamentary Leader and MP for Gelang Patah Lim Kit Siang at the DAP Veterans Club Fourth Congress in Butterworth on Sunday, 17th November 2013at 10 am)