DAP welcomes like-minded Malays and Muslims to join the party in pursuit of the nationalist and patriotic cause to save Malaysia from becoming a failed state because of rampant corruption, injustices and collapse of good governance.
DAP is not a non-Malay or non-Muslim political party and we must not allow ourselves to be locked into non-Malay and non-Muslim areas and spheres of activities in the country, as the DAP had right from the beginning of our formation some five decades ago in 1966 espoused the Malaysian Dream to advocate justice, freedom and human dignity for all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region.
This is why the DAP had always presented a multi-racial slate of candidates for parliamentary and state assembly constituencies in general elections from the very first general election contested by the DAP in 1969.
In Perak, DAP had elected five Malay state assemblymen into the Perak State Assembly from the 1969 to 1990 general elections – Ibrahim Singgeh (Tapah Road – 1969) followed by Daing Ibrahim bin Othman (Pasir Puteh – 1974), Salleh Nakhoda Hitam, (Guntong – 1974 & 1978), Fadzlan Yahya (Pasir Bedamar 1982 & 1986) and Asri Othman (Dermawan – 1990).
In the General Election for Perak State in 1974, DAP fielded 11 Malay out of 33 State Assembly candidates and in 1978, DAP fielded 25 Malay out of 38 State Assembly candidates.
In the past few polls, Perak DAP had strayed from this multi-racial objective of ensuring that we not only presented multi-racial slate of candidates but elected a multi-racial slate of State Assemblymen in the Perak state legislature, which is a serious political error which is a challenge to Perak DAP to strive to correct and overcome in the shortest possible time as DAP must never lose sight of our larger multi-racial objective.
DAP must always be loyal to our founding objective to be a Malaysian party not a Chinese, Indian or Malay party, and we must ensure that our door is always open to like-minded Malaysians regardless of race or religion. DAP has more Indian Members of Parliament and State Assembly representatives than MIC – today as well as in the 1969 general election but the DAP is not an Indian political party.
In the 13th General Election, with 30 Chinese MPs and 101 Chinese State Assembly representatives all over the country, DAP had more Chinese MPs and SAs than MCA which was reduced to a 7/11 political party with seven MPs and 11 State Assembly members or the Gerakan’s 2/3 political score with two MPs and three State Assembly members. But DAP is not a Chinese political party.
Whatever the trials and tribulations, including the lies and slanders hurled at DAP leaders down the decades for being anti-Malay and anti-Islam, DAP leaders had never allowed these lies and falsehoods to swerve us from our fundamental commitment to be a Malaysian party for all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region.
DAP has elected a Kadazan State Assemblyman in Sabah and we look forward to the election of the first Dayak State Assemblyman in Sarawak in the forthcoming Sarawak state general elections, as well as Kadazan and Dayak MPs in the 14th GE.
Whatever our ups and downs in the political waters of Malaysia, the DAP leadership, membership and supporters must always remain true and loyal to our national objective to be a Malaysian party for all Malaysians.
This is why the DAP, particularly in Perak, must redouble our efforts to welcome into our ranks like-minded Malays and Muslims in pursuit of the cause of an united, harmonious, inclusive, progressive, just and prosperous Malaysia.
While we welcome like-minded Malays and Muslims to join the DAP to strengthen our political struggle, we will also co-operate with like-minded political parties and political forces to Save Malaysia from becoming a failed state.
This is because we recognize the Malaysian political reality that no single political party can rule Malaysia and that if there is to be political change in Putrajaya in the next general election, it must be through a new political coalition as the Federal government in Putrajaya, whether as Pakatan Rakyat 2.0 or in some other name and form.
We want a Malaysia where Malaysians regard themselves first and last as Malaysians, where good governance is the top priority concern of all citizens to promote democracy, the rule of law and a corruption-free government with high moral purpose and standards, a sound economy, good jobs, good schools and universities, quality but affordable housing, health and transportation system, and a crime-free environment to bring up the new generation of Malaysians.
After more than half a century of nation-building, Malaysians should be moving towards these goals and objectives but the reverse seems to be the case.
If proof is needed, the Low Yat Mob Incident in Kuala Lumpur last night is salutary reminder that race relations in general and national unity in particular have never been so brittle and fragile as recent times because of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia empty sloganeering but unchecked racial and religious polarization and incitement in the past few years.
Everyone must learn from the lessons of the Low Yat Mob Incident, if Malaysia is to be saved from becoming a “failed state”, with a breakdown of law and order, failure of good and effective governance as well as the collapse of inter-racial and inter-religious understanding, harmony and goodwill in the country.
There are at least three lessons that can be drawn from the Low Yat Mob Incident.
Firstly, government agencies responsible for ensuring law and order must be pro-active, effective and professional, able to nip in the bud irresponsible, racist and anti-national elements out to create mischief in our plural society. In other words, there is an urgent need for all national institutions, whether the Police or the various enforcement agencies to raise their standards of service and performance. Secondly, the Prime Minister should institute an inquiry as to why his 1Malaysia signature policy is such a dismal failure, including why government agencies like Biro Tatanegara had contributing to greater national divisions instead of promoting national unity. Thirdly, all organizations, whether government, political parties or NGOs should always set examples of being inclusive and Malaysian-centric, and not petty, narrow-minded or sectarian just to serve the interests of any one race, religion or group of the people.
For the DAP, it is a reminder that the DAP must redouble our energies and efforts to ensure that more Malays and Muslims join our ranks so that together with non-Malay and non-Muslim Malaysians, DAP becomes more effective and representative vehicle together with like-minded political parties and political forces to save Malaysia from becoming a “failed state” because of rampant corruption, injustices, racist extremism, religious intolerance and the collapse of good governance.
[Speech (2) to Perak DAP State and branch leaders at a meeting on the post-PR scenario and the future of Malaysia at Perak DAP State hqrs in Ipoh on Monday, 13th July 2015 at 9pm]