The start of the new year 2016 has not been an auspicious one – with the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s most disappointing New Year message claiming that his RM2.6 billion “donation” and RM55 billion 1MDB twin mega scandals are no more issues in the country, as if by a magician’s wand, they have disappeared into thin air!

This is the worst example of denial syndrome in the nation’s history, where the Prime Minister is openly denying the existence of a problem and scandal which he himself could not possibly believe in.

In fact, just three days ago, Malaysia was catapulted into the stratosphere when we won the international dishonour of being named the world’s third most corrupt nation in 2015 thanks to Najib’s twin mega scandals.

Just now, we made history for Malaysia when the people of Kluang displayed the placard “Mana RM2.6 billion?” as a reply to Najib’s New Year Message, not only on behalf of Kluang but of Malaysia, that the RM2.6 billion “donation” and RM55 billion 1MDB twin mega scandals remain very alive and are the leading issues of the nation for this year, and that Malaysians expect Najib to address them and not to continue to run and hide.

2015 had been a very bad year for Malaysians, and 2016 is unlikely to be better, with Malaysians still haunted and hounded by the very same scandals which hit the country in 2015, in particular:

1. Worsening racial and religious polarisation, with the escalation of the politics of lies, hatred and fear as a desperate attempt to UMNO leaders to keep themselves in powler;

2. The baneful effect of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) compounding the economic woes of low-income Malaysians sandwiched between low incomes and ever-rising prices;

3. Continuing assault on the constitutional rights of Malaysians to democracy, the rule of law and human rights with the National Security Council Bill rushed through both Houses of Parliament last month posing the greatest threat to Malaysians;

4. The RM2.6 billion “donation” scandal; and

5. The RM55 billion 1MDB scandal, despite spurious claims that the Prime Minister has delivered his promise last June to resolve the 1MDB problem by the end of the year.

The year 2016 is a year of political realignment in Malaysia where the greatest challenge is not how to save an individual, whether Najib, or a political party, whether UMNO, but how to save Malaysia from continuing with the policy disasters leading Malaysia to a failed and rogue state.

DAP and Pakatan Harapan are prepared to work and co-operate with disaffected UMNO leaders, branches and members in a new political realignment to “Save Malaysia” from rampant corruption, widespread socio-economic injustices and nation-building failures.

(Speech at the DAP Kluang forum on “Cabaran Malaysia 2016: Mampukah Rakyat Di Bela?” held at Cincin Restaurant, Kluang on Saturday, 2nd January 2016 at 3 pm)