I first visited Kota Kinabalu 50 years ago on the day of infamy for Malaysia – the May 13, 1969 racial riots.
I left Kuala Lumpur for the flight to Kota Kinabalu on the morning on May 13, 1969 to help the independent Kota Kinabalu parliamentary candidate as polling in Sabah and Sarawak in 1969 were to be held after Peninsular Malaysia, which was held on May 10, 1969.
I was just elected Member of Parliament for Bandar Melakja and it was in answer for the SOS call from the Independent Parliamentary candidate for Kota Kinabalu that I flew to Kota Kinabalu that morning – not realising that May 13, 1969 was to be a day infamy for Malaysia.
It was only at the Kota Kinabalu public rally that evening, I learned that racial riots had broken out in Kuala Lumpur as a result of the general election results three days earlier.
I left Sabah on May 15, and was arrested when I left Singapore for Subang on May 18, which started my first Internal Security Act incarceration.
I was never in Kuala Lumpur during the May 13, 1969 riots, but I have been accused of leading the illegal assemblies in the streets in Kuala Lumpur, shouting anti-Malay slogans and causing the May 13, 1969 racial riots – lies which we resurrected again and again in the last five decades.
The May 13, 1969 racial riots demonstrated the importance of racial and religious harmony in our multi-racial, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural nation – that we must not allow the opportunists and desperados in our midst to polarise racial and religious problems for their own ends, which could only result in Malaysia becoming a divided and a failed state.
For the past five decades, the May 13, 1969 racial riots were exploited by irresponsible politicians to frighten Malaysians from peacefully exercising their democratic rights, but Malaysians rose above two national ignominies in the historic result of the 14th General Election on May 9, 2018 – firstly, the ignominy of the May 13,1969 racial riots and secondly, the ignominy of being condemned by the world as a global kleptocracy – to tell the world not to lose hope in democracy as a form of government.
Just as Malaysians have arisen above these two ignominies in its history, the May 13, 1969 racial riots and being condemned by the world as a global kleptocracy, Malaysians must continue to aim high and be a top world class nation for harmony, freedom, integrity and excellence to build a New Malaysia, where Malaysians can hold their heads high because they come from a country which not only tolerate, but accept and respect racial, religious, linguistic and cultural diversity as well as a country which is a leading nation of integrity in the world.
The Kepayang DAP Chinese New Year Open House, hosted by the Sabah Assemblywoman and Assistant Minister for Law and Native Affairs, Jannie Lasimbang is a testimony we have great potential to put these two national ignominies behind us.
(Speech by DAP MP for Iskandar Puteri Lim Kit Siang at the Kepayang Chinese New Year Open House in Penambang, Sabah on Sunday, February 17, 2019 at 9 pm)
#1 by Bigjoe on Monday, 18 February 2019 - 7:54 pm
People are talking about Hadi and Nik Abduh lying and PAS ridiculous attempts to excuse it even creating more lies.
But truth is its not the lying that is scary but rather it’s pretty clear what the lies are about, what Hadi and his PAS is about Hadi is hate, prejudicial deep seated self righteous hate and that is very very scary national crises
#2 by Bigjoe on Tuesday, 19 February 2019 - 7:45 am
Its simply surreal to hear UMNO and BN politicians claim that Najib is a boon to UMNO not a liability.
They are wrong on two counts –
Firstly, NAJIB IS GUILTY – the DOJ said so, the people all (even UMNO/PAS themselves) think so, what has not happened is the court of law has not rule procedurally. It does not say he is not guilty. The court of law may be final arbiter, but its not the ONLY arbiter and citizens and political party have a right and responsibility to make social judgement, not abrogate everything to the courts only..
Hence if Najib is a boon to UMNO campaign, its a social problem It condemns UMNO and it condemns BN – they have no absolute right of all political opportunism..The voters who support Najib are victims and social problem, they are not citizens exercising their full rights and responsibilities.
#3 by good coolie on Wednesday, 20 February 2019 - 7:57 pm
It is alright if the purpose of lying is to buttress a holy political party from peril. The end justifies the means, you know. Never mind that temporarily, Cash is King, as it was in the heydays of UMNO.
Perhaps (my understanding of Islamic Law is limited), this is the doctirne of Taqiyyah in operation. However, I understand too that this doctrine was developed by Shia theologians.