In my 76th birthday statement yesterday, I expressed the hope that Malaysians will try to be more Malaysian in their thinking, outlook and responses regardless of race, religion, region or culture.

This is because Malaysia’s diversity of races, languages, religions and cultures is the nation’s greatest strength and asset.

Malaysia should be the showcase of peace, tolerance, understanding, inter-action and unity of diverse races, religions and cultures in the world to build a new global civilization of justice, freedom, dignity and excellence of humanity.

I want to thank the UMNO Information chief, Datuk Seri Annuar Musa for personifying the very anti-thesis of a such model Malaysian, as illustrated by his statement rejecting my offer to speak at the UMNO/BN nation-wide roadshow on the Cabinet’s decision to set up special task force to probe Bank Negara’s forex losses more than two decades ago.

Annuar Musa’s statement is “must study” by all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or political affiliation, for it is a statement no patriotic Malaysian should ever make – steeped with venom, hatred, distrust, prejudice even lies and deceit!

I do not know why the UMNO leadership is so frightened of me, that its Information Chief had to invent eight reasons why I would not be welcome on the UMNO/BN roadshow on the government probe into the Bank Negara’s forex losses more than two decades ago.

Does Annuar know that he had told eight lies in his statement yesterday?

I am prepared to point out the eight lies in his statement in a joint media conference by both of us – Annuar can just name the place and time within the next 48 hours, and I will be there.

But Annuar may belong to that special class of politicians in Malaysia who do not know the lies he had told in statements issued in his name!

If so, no wonder Annuar is doing such a lousy job as UMNO Information chief!

Annuar has made wild and baseless attacks against me, among other things, accusing me of not upholding the Federal Constitution and Rukunegara and disrespect Malays, syariah law and Islam.

Let me re-state my political creed in my 51 years in Malaysian politics.

I had always been guided by one principle – to serve all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or socio-economic background.
Malaysia can only build a great future and great Malaysian civilization if all races, religions, languages and cultures fully participate and contribute to the Malaysian vision.

In this sense, no one can claim to be a truly Malaysian if he is anti-Malay, anti-Chinese, anti-Indian, anti-Kadazan, anti-Dayak or anti-Muslim, anti-Christian, anti-Buddhist, anti-Hindu or anti-Sikh.

While a Malaysian is a Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan or Dayak, no one can claim to be a Malaysian if he is anti-Malay, anti-Chinese, anti-Indian, anti-Kadazan, anti-Dayak or anti-Muslim, anti-Christian, anti-Buddhist, anti-Hindu or anti-Sikh.

This is why in my 51 years in Malaysian politics, I have never called anyone anti-Malay, anti-Chinese, anti-Indian, anti-Kadazan or anti-Dayak, or anti-Muslim, anti-Buddhist, anti-Christian, anti-Hindu or anti-Sikh as I will in fact be challenging his or her very core existence as a Malaysian!

In our 51 years of political struggle, DAP had never been anti-Malay or anti-Islam.

This is why we have Malay and Muslim Members of Parliament, both in Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara, and State Assemblymen, as well as the unprecedented example of Lim Guan Eng crossing the racial and religious divide to defend the honour of an underaged Malay and Muslim girl, going to jail in Kajang Prisons, forfeiting his position as Member of Parliament and disenfranchised from standing for elections for five years from his release from prison.

Has any UMNO leader sacrificed his political career for the honour and dignity of a Malay or Muslim, let alone crossing the racial and religious divide to defend the rights and honour of a non-Malay or non-Muslim citizen?

Malaysia needs a new political culture of honest, moral and ethical politics in Malaysia, involving three Noes – No politics of fear, no politics of hate and no politics of lies.

Does Annuar understand what I am saying?

In any event, Annuar has loaded my lawyers with extra work as they will have to study Annuar’s vicious, defamatory and false accusations to consider the possibility of legal proceedings.