There are two things for Malaysian voters to prove in the next 14th General Election – firstly, that Malaysians reject kleptocracy; and secondly, that Malaysia is a normal democratic country.

I do not believe there a single person who would think when the country attained Merdeka on August 31, 1957 or when Malaysia was formed on Sept. 16, 1963 that the nation would become not just a kleptocracy, but a “global kleptocracy”.

Malaysia only became known as a “global kleptocracy” after the 13th General Election in May 2013.

This is quite an achievement of sorts in so short of time, but Malaysians must demonstrate in the 14th General Elections that they are not proud of such “achievement” and do not want such international infamy and ignominy for the country, where they are shy when overseas to admit that they are Malaysians for they do want to answer questions revolving around “MO1”or the RM117 million pink diamond necklance for “wife of MO1”.

For six decades, the political rulers in Malaysia from Barisan Nasional have acquired the traits of a “big bully” which can be seen by the high-handed and arbitrary manner in which they tried to disqualify the DAP Sarawak State Assemblyman for Pujut, Dr. Ting Tiong Choon with the brute Barisan Nasional majority in the Sarawak State Assembly.

Another example of Barisan Nasional as the “big bully” trampling on the human rights of Malaysians is the high-handed and arbitrary ban of political activist Hiew Kuan Yau from entering Sarawak this evening to be guest speaker at this Miri DAP Branch dinner.

The only Sarawak BN party which is concerned by Kuan Yau’s attendance at the Miri DAP Branch dinner is the SUPP, and SUPP leaders should explain why they are so afraid of Kuan Yau, who is now not even a member of DAP, that they had to get the Sarawak Chief Minister his powers to bar Kuan Yau entry to Sarawak.

Another example of BN as the “big bully” in Malaysian politics is the announcement by the Registrar of Societies (RoS) wanting to DAP to hold DAP Central Executive Committee re-elections based on the 2012 DAP Congress delegates list, with a barely concealed threat that the DAP will otherwise be regarded as an illegal party and the Rocket logo would not be used in the next general election.

The Registrar of Societies have not explained why they have waited for four to five years to act so unreasonably.

I have been informed by the DAP headquarters administration and up to close of office today, no letter from the RoS have been received although the Registrar issued a media statement last Friday that such a letter to the DAP would be on the way.

But the biggest buly of all in Malaysian politics was none other than the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who caused Malaysia become a “global kleptocracy” overnight and is trying to deceive the nation and the worlsd with the scam and charade that the 1MDB scandal never existed, although former bankers have been convicted and jailed, while banks have been fined or close down, in foreign countries because of the international multi-billion dollar 1MDB money-laundering scandal.

The second objective of the 14th General Election is for Malaysia to become a normal democratic country, where voters can change the party or political coalition in government peacefully and democratically through the ballot box like other mature democracies without threats of national catastrophes.

In the past 60 years, there had been six democratic and peaceful changes of government in the United Kingdom, but not a single time in Malaysia.

In Asia, Japan, India, South Korea, Taiwan and even Philippines and Indonesia have more democratic traditions and practices than Malaysia, as the Japanese, Indians, South Koreans, Taiwanese and even Filipinos and Indonesians can use the ballot box to change the party or political coalition in power without any national disaster or calamities.

The case of South Korea should be a salutary reminder of how far we as a nation have fallen short of our expectations when we achieved Merdeka on August 31, 1957.

Sixty years ago, South Korea was very poor and backward, with a per capita GNP which is only one-third in this country. Today, South Korea is one of the richest, most developed and prosperous nations in the world.

Sixty years ago, any notion of democracy and human rights in South Korea was non-existent as it was ruled by a dictatorship. But today, the South Korean Parliament could impeach the South Korean President and eight judges of the South Korean Constitutional Court could unanimously uphold the impeachment of the South Korean President by the South Korean Parliament on charges of corruption and cronyism.

Today, Park Geun-hye has been toppled as South Korean President and is in jail waiting trial on corruption and abuse of powers charges which could sent her to prison for life.

Can Malaysians to do the same thing against “MO1” which had earned for the country the international infamy and ignominy of a “global kleptocracy”?

Why is Malaysia so backward and behind South Korea in political and economic developments today, when we were ahead of South Korea on both scores sixty years ago.

All Malaysians should ask these question and look for the answers – why after six decades of nationhood, we failed to be an example and showcase to the troubled world as to how diverse races, languages, religions, cultures and civilisations could successfully co-exist and integrate to build a united, harmonious, purposive, democratic, just, progressive and prosperous nation.

The impending 14th General Election will be a critical test whether Malaysia can be a normal democratic country where voters can peacefully and democratically elect the government they want for the country.

Are all political parties and leaders prepared to prove their democratic credentials by declaring clearly and unequivocally that they would respect and abide by their voters’ choice expressed through the ballot box on general election day, including a peaceful and democratic change of the Federal Government?

(Speech (2) at the “Bangkit Miri, Undi Harapan” DAP Miri 14th General Election Preparatory Dinner at Eastwood Valley, Miri on Friday, 14th July 2017 at 9 pm)