The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak said that Opposition MPs have embarrassed themselves by staging a walkout during his Trumpish 2017 budget speech in Parliament on Friday.

The Defence Minister, Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein said that the walkout of Opposition MPs from Najib’s 2017 Budget in Parliament was shameful and indecent because never in the history of the country had MPs walked out during the budget presentation.

The Minister for Youth and Sports, Khairy Jamaluddin said it was unprofessional for Opposition MPs to stage a walk-out of Parliament during Najib’s budget speech.

Let me tell UMNO leaders from Najib to Hishammuddin to Khairy that they should realise that there is nothing more embarrassing, shameful, indecent and unprofessional than to lead Malaysia to a “global kleptocracy”.

I am shocked that the Prime Minister and all the UMNO and Barisan Nasional Ministers are completely bereft of shame and outrage that Malaysia is regarded world-wide as a “global kleptocracy” and they could accept such infamy and ignominy to the nation with such equanimity, passivity and peace of mind!

I for one have never felt so ashamed and outraged as a Malaysian in my 75 years that the country I so loved and for which I am prepared to sacrifice my freedom and liberties have descended so low that it is regarded world-wide as a “global kleptocracy”, a country ruled by PPP – Penchuri, Perompak dan Penyamun!

If Malaysia does not deserve to be regarded world-wide as a “global kleptocracy”, then Malaysian leaders and institutions, beginning with Parliament, must protest loud and clear for the whole world to hear at such aspersion, stain and defamation of the country’s good name and reputation.

If there is basis for the world-wide infamy of Malaysia as a “global kleptocracy”, then Parliament and all patriotic Malaysians must start the process to cleanse and purge the country of such infamy and ignominy by rooting out from office and the system the persons and officials, regardless of how high or low their positions, responsible for such national infamy and ignominy!

It is no option for Parliament and the nation to just keep quiet and do nothing at such world-wide infamy and ignominy of Malaysia as a “global kleptocracy”.

This is why I am shocked that Najib’s 2017 Budget speech which lasted some two hours made no attempt to rebut and refute the world-wide infamy and ignominy of Malaysia as a “global kleptocracy”, but even more shocking, Najib could say and refer to all things under the sun but there is not a word about Malaysia’s fight or commitment to battle corruption!

I am utterly shocked that in the first week of Parliament, MPs were not allowed to ask questions about the US Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit to forfeit over US$1 billion of 1MDB-linked assets in the United States, United Kingdom and Switzerland and my two attempts to raise the issue of Malaysia’s infamy as a “global kleptocracy” during the two Minister’s Question Time (MQT) sessions were rejected by the Speaker, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia.

I am asking the same question to the Prime Minister as to what the government was doing to to cleanse and purge Malaysia’s infamy as a global kleptocracy during the third MQT next Tuesday, and if it is rejected by the Speaker for the third time, Malaysians can conclude that they cannot depend on the present Parliament to clear the nation of the infamy of a global kleptocracy.

Every Malaysian, regardless of whether he or she is a Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan, Iban or Orang Asli, whether Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Taoist or Sikh, must show that they are more patriotic than Najib, Hishanmmuddin and Khairy and be ashamed and outraged that Malaysia is regarded world-wide as a “global kleptocracy” when during the first two decades of the nation’s history under the premiership of Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak and Tun Hussein Onn, corruption was a rare phenomenon as compared to the rampant corruption today with Malaysia reaching the world heights of a “global kleptocracy”.

Clearly, only ordinary Malaysians who love the country can save the nation from the international infamy and ignominy of a “global kleptocracy” as the nation’s leaders in UMNO and Barisan Nasional do not mind Malaysia being regarded as a “global kleptocracy”.

Deepavali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, right over wrong, knowledge over ignorance and hope over despair.
It is a reaffirmation of the Hindu belief that good will ultimately triumph over evil.

However, there are times when darkness seem to wipe out the light, when the battle of good over evil seems difficult and even impossible. These are such times in Malaysia, when it is even more important to have faith, courage and stamina to soldier on to ensure the eventual victory of light over darkness and good over evil.

Happy Deepavali to all Malaysians.

(Speech at the Gelang Patah DAP Deepavali celebrations in Gelang Patah on Sunday, 23rd October 2016 at 9 pm)