I want to thank Malaysians for their concern, well wishes and prayers for my operation and recuperation.
The battle for an united, just and democratic Malaysia that can be a showcase to the world of the political, socio-economic, educational and nation-building success of a multi-racial, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural nation must continue whatever the odds and vicissitudes.
Tonight we have another reason for celebration. For five years, the UMNO/Barisan Nasional government had tried to carry out the “death sentence” for the DAP, falsely claiming that the DAP had in December 2012 undemocratically and illegally elected its Central Executive Committee.
There was even a time when it would appear that the DAP could not use the DAP symbol, the Rocket, in the 13th General Election in May 2013, when we had used the Rocket symbol for nearly five decades through ten general elections.
The five–year ordeal that the DAP suffered because of UMNO/BN machinations to kill the DAP should never have happened in a country which practices good governance and upholds the rule of law.
Where in the world does the Registrar of Societies inform a political party that its national party elections over four years ago was illegal and forced it to hold fresh party elections?
What DAP had done in the DAP national party leadership elections in December 2012 was honest, open, transparent, democratic and fully in compliance with the party constitution and the laws of the land, and we had no problem in complying with the RoS’ (Registrar of Societies) most arbitrary, unlawful and improper instruction, forgoing the legal option of challenging the RoS’ decision in the courts of law.
The five-year RoS ordeal is only one of three trials and tribulations devised by UMNO/BN leaders and strategists to break the spirit and struggle of DAP and Malaysians for a just, democratic and united Malaysia.
The UMNO/BN leaders and strategists have lost one gambit, but will do their utmost to succeed in the other two gambits, viz. to maliciously charge the DAP Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for corruption while turning a blind eye to the real corruption in the country, whether the international multi-billion dollar kleptocratic money-laundering scamdal, or those involving FELDA, MARA, Tabung Haji, etc; and secondly, the baseless accusations and polemics on the proposed undersea tunnel in Penang.
I believe that truth and justice will finally prevail.
Malaysians must never lose faith and hope that they have within their hands the power to effect changes in Malaysian politics, particularly in the forthcoming 14th General Election, to make all Malaysians, whether Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans or Ibans, proud of Malaysia not only because they can fulfil their full potentials as a Malaysian but also because Malaysia is capable of accomplishing its full promise and greatness as a united and successful nation, wipe out the infamy and ignominy of being regarded as a “global kleptocracy” and Save Malaysia from the trajectory of a failed and rogue state.
(Speech at the DAP Kopitiam ceramah in Kinrara, Puchong on Tuesday, 6th February 2018 at 9 pm)