Why is the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak playing up the spectre of the “Chinese peril” despite the community’s population having steadily declined over the years?

In 1957, Malaya’s population comprised 49.8% Malays, 37.2% Chinese, 11.1% Indians and 2% Others.

In 1970 Malaysia’s population comprised 44.32% Malays, 34.34% Chinese, 8.99% Indians, 11.89% non-Malay Bumiputeras, 0.67% others.

In 2010, the percentage of Malays in the Malaysian population increased to 55.07%, Chinese reduced to 24.34%, Indians dropped to 7.35%, non-Malay Bumiputeras maintained at 11.94% and 1.3% others.

After 2030, the percentage of the Chinese in the Malaysian population will fall below 20 percent, as the Malaysian Chief Statistician has predicted that the Chinese percentage of the population would shrink to 19.6% in 2030 and 18.9% in 2035.

There can only be one explanation for this paradox – Najib believes that the Malay tsunami is strong enough to defeat UMNO/BN in the 14th General Election on May 9, 2018 and he is doing his utmost to scare the Malays about fictitious “the Chinese peril” to ensure that they stay loyal to him and UMNO.

Najib alleged in Lipis yesterday that under the Pakatan Harapan, “absolute power rests in the hands of DAP”, and he portrayed the 14th General Election as a fight between UMNO-led Barisan Nasional and DAP-led Pakatan Harapan.

Najib knows in his heart of hearts that his statement that “absolute power rests in the hands of DAP” or that Pakatan Harapan is “DAP-led” are not true, and that Pakatan Harapan operates on the principle of genuine consensus of the four component parties unlike Barisan Nasional where, to borrow the language of Tan Sri Shahrir Samad, what UMNO wants UMNO gets and what UMNO wants UMNO takes.

I follow Najib’s speeches and statements very closely, and I notice that he has always been careful not to accuse DAP and myself as anti-Malay and anti-Islam, but he always quoted Tun Mahathir’s statements in the past as authority for such an allegation.

For instance, in his latest posts on his Facebook and Twitter accounts, Najib said:

“From my observation, Dr Mahathir is being merely used by DAP to split the Malay vote, as if the DAP is good to the Malays.

“The fact is, where’s the truth? Is DAP good to the Malays, to Islam? Dr Mahathir himself said the DAP is anti-Malay and anti-Islam.”

It is sad that a Malaysian Prime Minister who at one time had coined the 1Malaysia slogan to unite all Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, should now resort to such base politics of race, fear, lies and hate to perpetuate his position as Prime Minister of Malaysia.

Yes, Tun Mahathir had previously accused the DAP as anti-Malay and anti-Islam – but that was before he learnt about the DAP’s true objectives and principles.

Now Mahathir has realised that his previous allegations against the DAP were misplaced and wrong, that DAP is very Malaysian-centric and Malaysian-minded, in keeping with the DAP objectives and principles that we must be Malaysian first and our race and religion second.

Is Najib prepared to acknowledge Mahathir’s admission that his past attacks on the DAP as anti-Malay and anti-Islam were wrong and misplaced, and accept Mahahtir’s discovery that the DAP is not anti-Malay and anti-Islam but very Malaysian-centric and Malaysian-minded.

Let me declare tonight that I will sue Najib in the courts if he dares to accuse me of being anti-Malay and anti-Islam, as this will be a downright lie and defamation.

I give Najib three days to accuse me of being anti-Malay and anti-Islam.

DAP is a Malaysian party, dedicated to promote the rights and welfare of all Malaysians, regardless of race or religion.

There is no place in DAP for anyone who is anti-Malay, anti-Chinese, anti-Indian, anti-Kadazan or anti-Dayak just as there is no place in DAP for anyone who is anti-Islam, anti-Buddhism, anti-Christianity, anti-Hinduism, anti-Sikhhism or anti-Taoism.

Najib has abandoned his 1Malaysia policy which shows his shallow commitment to Malaysia as a nation of many diversities. DAP however remains committed to the promotion of values and relations among Malaysians which transcend race and religion and promote national unity, harmony, tolerance and respect for the diverse ethnicities, languages, religions and cultures in Malaysia.

I urge Najib to set a good example of clean and honest politics in the 14th General Elections instead of being the chief exponent of politics of fear, race, lies and hate among the diverse races and religions in the country.

(Speech at the DAP/Pakatan Harapan ceramah in Ipoh on Thursday, 26th April 2018 at 10.30 pm)