From the great turnout of Malaysians in the Diaspora in my talks in Perth, Canberra and tonight in Sydney, it is evident that regardless of time and place, Malaysians (including those who have taken up the citizenship of other countries) are concerned about the future of Malaysia and want to contribute to and participate in the building of a New Malaysia after the historic result of the 14th General Election on May 9,2018.
For this reason, I call for the establishment of a New Malaysia civil movement, in Malaysia as well as in Malaysian Diaspora worldwide, which can be called Diaspora New Malaysia with separate chapters in countries abroad or major foreign cities patterned after Bersih and Global Bersih as platforms for Malaysians to contribute to and participate in the building of New Malaysia.
Malaysians have been given a second chance to re-set nation-building policies by the 14th General Election of May 9, 2018 to fulfil the original vision of the nation’s founding fathers for Malaysia to become a top world-class nation, or in the words of Bapa Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman, to be “a beacon of light in a disturbed and distracted world” – definitely not to be “a blackhole” of rogue democracy, kakistocracy where Ministers cannot differentiate between turtle eggs from chicken eggs, and a global kleptocracy!
Malaysians must not waste the “second chance” to fulfill our national destiny to be a great nation, where we can leverage on the assets of the diverse races, religions, languages, cultures and civilizations which meet in confluence in Malaysia and form the basis for a new civilization based on the best values and assets of the world’s great religions and civilizations.
The great task to build a New Malaysia cannot be accomplished in 100 days or in five months, but will take a decade or two.
It is only in the last few days that the Pakatan Harapan Government has announced a sheaf of reforms, such as lowering the voting age from 21 to 18 which is already the practice in most democracies; the appointment of Art Harun as Election Commission Chairman to clean up electoral system and election process; and the establishment of the Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) which had been mooted 12 years ago by the Police Royal Commission in 2006!
Malaysians must develop the qualities of perseverance and patience so as to develop the Big Picture and the Long
Vision to reset nation-building policies to build a New Malaysia.
While it is not possible to build a New Malaysia in 100 days or in five months, it is important that the Malaysian ship of state should make a critical turn of direction from a trajectory of a failed, kleptocratic and kakistocratic state to a trajectory of greater national unity, integrity, democracy, rule of law and excellence, setting a new course in nation-building towards a New Malaysia especially in the direction of public integrity, rule of law, democracy, good governance, greater transparency, economic justice and greater unity among its citizens of diverse races, religions and cultures.
This is evident from the work to restore the doctrine of separation of powers among the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary.
Parliament, for instance, has been freed from the albatross imposed by the former Speaker, refusing to allow questions to be asked and a full debate on the international 1MDB corruption and money-laundering scandal in the 13th Parliament.
I have been in Parliament since 1969, except for a break from 1999-2004, but I was never more ashamed to be MP than in the 13th Parliament from 2013-2018.
I was twice suspended for six months from the 13th Parliament for wanting to get to the bottom of the 1MDB scandal, and in the last few days of the 13th Parliament, I was regarded as a “parliamentary ghost” by both the Speaker and the former Deputy Speakers, for they decided not to “see” my presence in Parliament!
In the past five months, national and international respect for the Malaysian judiciary and the system of justice were being restored.
In the past, there was widespread talk of the reprehensible practice where litigants involved in mega disputes could be approached by intermediaries who promised to settle their cases in return for hefty sums of monies.
The “corruption” case of Finance Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng in his capacity as Penang Chief Minister had been dropped. I had said previously that I have received message in 2016 that Guan Eng’s corruption charges would be dropped if I could ensure that I would not co-operate with Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad to bring about a united front to toppled Datuk Seri Najib Razak as Prime Minister.
Such practices which undermined the efficiency, independence and professionalism of the judiciary and the system of justice must never be allowed to return in a New Malaysia.
There is much work in various spheres if we are to succeed in building of a New Malaysia, an effort which should involve all Malaysians.
(Speech by DAP MP for Iskandar Puteri Lim Kit Siang on “Looking for a New Malaysia” organized by Bersih Sydney at Mechanics’ School of Art, Sydney on Friday, 21st September 2018 at 6 pm)