The country seems to be overwhelmed by a multitude of problems which raise the question whether the vision of a New Malaysia has any relevance to the future of Malaysia.

But I think otherwise, as I believe that the vision of a New Malaysia which resulted in the historic decision of May 9, 2018 must continue to inspire and unite Malaysians despite the multitude of problems haunting and even hounding the country after six decades of UMNO/BN rule.

In the past week, problems piled up one after another, some of which seemed to concern only one particular community or religious group but actually concern all Malaysians and all religious groups, including the following:

— Ratification of ICERD (International Covenant for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination) which has been distorted to mean a grave threat and assault on the rights and interests of the Malays, Islam and the Malay Rulers.

This is untrue as 179 countries, which include 99% of the world’s 1.9 billion Muslims, have ratified ICERD – including 55 of the 57 countries in the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC). In the past half a century, no community or religion had suffered as a result of such ratification.

Apart from Malaysia and Brunei, 36 of the 38 countries with monarchical systems have ratified ICERD, and none of these 36 countries have abolished the monarchical system as a result of such ratification, most notably the United Kingdom, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark and Sweden.

If ICERD represents a grave assault on the rights and interests of the Malays, Islam and the Malay Rulers, I myself will not support ICERD and all Malaysians regardless of race, religion or region will oppose it.

Why can’t the practitioners of toxic politics of lies, hate, fear, race and religion stop inciting raw emotions and primordial fears, even issuing threats of Malays running amok and “rindu May 13”, and instead, engage in a rational national debate to show proof that ICERD is a grave threat and assault on the rights and interests of the Malays, Islam and the Malay Rules?

— The Seafield Temple riots – which are criminal acts and not a racial or religious conflict which concern not just Malaysian Indians or Hindus but all Malaysians regardless of race and religion as there can be no New Malaysia without the restoration of the Rule of Law and the enjoyment of Freedom of Religion as guaranteed in the Malaysian Constitution.

— The long-running daily saga and disaster of the 1MDB scandal, as represented by a few of the following headlines which had dominated the news in the past six days:

· IPIC files lawsuit against Goldman Sachs, others over 1MDB case

· Yes, Jho Low may have cheated us, says Najib

· Ex-Goldman CEO had met Jho Low in 2012 – report

· Utusan: 1MDB audit report amended on Najib’s order

· Edge boss: Najib kicked me out when told about Jho Low’s scam

· Auditor-general: Najib ordered tampering of 1MDB audit

· Utusan: Najib, ‘civil servants’ traitors if 1MDB audit tampering claims true

· Tampering of 1MDB audit report? Ask Najib, says Zahid

· Opposition is like an ‘ostrich’ when it comes to 1MDB – Lim

All these issues haunting and hounding Malaysians have one common factor – they are a test of the vision of the New Malaysia which is struggling to be born after the historic May 9, 2018, which gave Malaysians an opportunity to save the country and re-set nation-building policies after six decades!

Malaysians want a New Malaysia which is united, democratic, just, progressive and properous, a world top class nation which is capable of levaraging on the best of the diverse races, languages, cultures and civilisations that meet in confluence in Malaysia so as to gain international respect and admiration as a successful nation which leads the world in integrity, and not scorned as a global kleptocracy hurtling towards a failed state future.

Let all Malaysians turn the multiple crisis in nation building presently haunting and hounding the country into opportunities to build a New Malaysia where all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, politics or region can feel proud as Malaysians and which is respected and admired by the world as a successful world top-class nation.

(Media Statement by DAP MP for Iskandar Puteri Lim Kit Siang in Parliament on Wednesday 28th November 2018)