Kenyataan Media oleh Ahli Parlimen DAP Iskandar Puteri Lim Kit Siang di Kuala Lumpur pada Selasa, 5 Mac 2019:
Cabaran buat Pakatan Harapan selepas mengalami kekalahan dalam Pilihan Raya Kecil Semenyih adalah untuk mencari formula bagi membangkitkan sokongan dan harapan di kalangan rakyat bahawa Pakatan Harapan komited terhadap agenda pembinaan Malaysia Baharu yang memberi manfaat kepada semua rakyat Malaysia dan generasi masa depan, tanpa perlu menjadi lebih UMNO dari UMNO atau lebih PAS dari PAS
Cabaran buat Pakatan Harapan selepas mengalami kekalahan dalam Pilihan Raya Kecil Semenyih adalah untuk mencari formula bagi membangkitkan harapan dan sokongan di kalangan rakyat bahawa Pakatan Harapan komited terhadap agenda pembinaan Malaysia Baharu yang memberi manfaat kepada semua rakyat Malaysia dan generasi masa depan, tanpa perlu menjadi lebih UMNO dari UMNO atau lebih PAS dari PAS.
Tahun 2019 akan menjadi tahun terpenting dalam sejarah negara yang mana akan menentukan sama ada Malaysia Baharu yang mahu dibentuk gabungan Pakatan Harapan yang terdiri daripada Bersatu, PKR, Amanah dan DAP mampu digerakkan atau sekadar khayalan semata-mata.
Peristiwa 9 Mei 2018 menganugerahi semua rakyat Malaysia satu peluang yang tidak pernah dibayangkan sebelum ini untuk membetulkan semula dasar pembinaan negara, dan walaupun Malaysia Baharu tidak boleh dibina atau dilengkapkan dalam tempoh 100 hari atau beberapa tahun, sebaliknya memerlukan tempoh sedekad dua untuk dicapai, rakyat Malaysia perlu meletakkan keyakinan bahawa Pakatan Harapan komited dengan program dan objektif Malaysia Baharu malah menunjukkan kemajuan dalam pelaksanaan manifesto pilihan raya Pakatan Harapan.
Perjalanan menuju Malaysia Baharu harus berakar pada reformasi institusi dan struktur pada tahun 2019 bagi mengubah Malaysia daripada gelaran kleptokrasi global kepada negara peneraju integriti; memulihkan kedaulatan undang-undang; mengukuhkan demokrasi; melakukan reformasi ke atas sistem pendidikan bagi menjadikan Malaysia sebuah negara terkemuka dunia; menyatukan rakyat Malaysia berbilang kaum, agama dan budaya dan memanfaatkan aset berbilang kaum, agama, budaya dan tamadun yang bertembung di Malaysia bagi membina sebuah tamadun global baharu.
Pembinaan negara yang bercirikan masyarakat majmuk bukanlah zero-sum game, sebaliknya formula menang-menang untuk semua rakyat Malaysia. Kita harus memperjuangkan hak orang Melayu tanpa meminggirkan orang bukan Melayu. Kita harus berjuang untuk hak orang Cina di Malaysia, tetapi bukan sehingga menjejaskan hak orang bukan Cina. Kita harus berjuang untuk hak orang India di Malaysia tanpa menjadi ancaman kepada orang bukan India di Malaysia. Begitu juga masyarakat Kadazan, Iban dan Orang Asli di Malaysia.
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The challenge for Pakatan Harapan after the Semenyih by-election defeat is to find a formula to be able to continue to inspire hope and support among Malaysians that Pakatan Harapan is committed to the building of a New Malaysia for the benefit of all Malaysians and future generations and not to out-UMNO UMNO or out-PAS PAS
The year 2019 will be a most decisive year in the nation’s history which will decide whether the New Malaysia the Pakatan Harapan coalition of Bersatu, PKR, AMANAH and DAP wants to build is a work-in-progress or a sheer chimera.
May 9, 2018 allows Malaysians a hitherto unimaginable chance to re-set nation-building policies, and although a New Malaysia cannot be built or completed in 100 days or in a few years, but will take a decade or two to accomplish, Malaysians must be convinced that the Pakatan Harapan is committed to the New Malaysia objective and programme and making progress in this direction in accordance with the Pakatan Harapan election manifesto.
The journey towards a New Malaysia must strike deep roots in terms of structural and institutional reforms in 2019 to transform Malaysia from a global kleptocracy into a leading nation of integrity; restore the rule of law; entrench democracy; reform the educational system to make Malaysia a top world-class nation; unite Malaysians of diverse races, religions and cultures and leverage on the assets of the diverse races, religions, cultures and civilisations which meet in confluence in Malaysia to build a new global civilization.
Nation building must not be a zero sum game but a win-win formula. We must fight for the rights of the Malays but not at the expense of the non-Malays. We must fight for the rights of the Chinese in Malaysia, but not to the detriment of the non-Chinese. We must fight for the rights of the Indians in Malaysia without being a threat to the non-Indians in Malaysia. Similarly for the Kadazans, Ibans and Orang Asli communities in Malaysia.
(Media Statement by DAP MP for Iskandar Puteri Lim Kit Siang in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, 5th March 2019)
#1 by Bigjoe on Tuesday, 5 March 2019 - 6:17 pm
What is wrong about the Semenyih result is that PH seem to have no gains as incumbent when the opposition are disgraced parties. Sure, PH has not fulfilled many of the over-promises but its not like PH has not acted on the most important issues – the corruption, the broken institutions, and the state finances. But supposedly for the longest time, many Malays voted for BN because they were the incumbent govt and necessary for any development. What happened to that now UMNO/BN is out of power?
PH not fufilling its manifesto and promises DOES not explain the result, it explains only the marginal swing. Why the underlying Malay voters are so extremely partisan if previously many claim they voted for the establishment for development?
Like it or not, we are staring at Mahathir’s pandora box he opened long time ago..Its karma to Mahathir. Did we really believe that after Mahathir and PH took down Najib-UMNO, he had fixed his wrongs so many and so deep?
The answer must lie with what Mahathir, Bersatu and like-minded like Azmin is willing to do? What is the “bumi agenda”? – Is it as defined by Tajuddin Ramli that Malay millionaires must be helped too – No one pointed out that NO GOVT IN THE WORLD should on purpose help the rich, no govt owe any of its people to get rich.
#2 by drngsc on Tuesday, 5 March 2019 - 8:58 pm
I am not sure what you mean by new formula? A few things is very obvious. We went into GE 14 with a manifesto that gave ALL Malaysians hope. That hope of all Malaysians ( not the work of Tun ) swept Harapan to power. However, after GE 14, Harapan leaders became spineless and allow Tun to do whatever he wished, including U turning on the promises and trying to make Bersatu as DUMNO 2.0 and Harapan into BN 2.0. And the other leaders kept quiet. That made us all very very disappointed. That oldman is trying to use all of you to outdo DUMNO and PAS is winning the Malay support ( something which will take 20-30 years, after 61 years of eating dedak ). He even openly defy all of you in taking back ex-DUMNOs to boost up his poor numbers. And all of you in Harapan kept quiet. What do you expect your supporters to feel? Do you want Harapan to become BN 2.0, Bersatu to become DUMNO 2.0 and DAP to become MCA 2.0? Of course not. Then do something before all you base run away, stay away from voting or spoil their votes from sheer frustration. It is at this moment that we need strong leadership. We look up to you Kit. I believe that the old man ( Loh Mah ) is the root cause of not fulfilling the reform agenda and U turning back to win “instant” Malay support. Well it is time to tell that old man that if he does not listen, your party, Kit, will leave and be friends of Harapan. Lose a few minsters post, and be true to your struggle. WE MUST NOT return to the old DUMNO way. Camerons and Semenyih have shown you all clearly what the mood of your supporters are like. If you are not convinced, Rantau will show the same. Wake up, stand up, do the right thing. It is time to defend your struggles and bring in the reforms. Better to be out standing, then to live of bent knees the rest of your life. You must lead us. If you fail us, please forgive us, as we will leave you. We must not be MCA 2.0, NEVER.
#3 by drngsc on Tuesday, 5 March 2019 - 9:04 pm
So sorry to have to write this, and say this, Kit. I have looked up to you and followed you for so long. We won. Even though you are now part of government now, the struggle must go on, for the people of Malaysia. Please do the right thing. Time to act. We are still with you, if you do the right thing.
#4 by quigonbond on Wednesday, 6 March 2019 - 2:47 pm
Uncle Kit, there is no need for a new formula. In my mind, Harapan is at the risk of losing its core support – majority non-Malays, and 1/3 of possibly more progressive Malays. Reneging or going slow on reforms, pandering to extremist sentiments starting with Icerd, power greed, and misplaced priorities have seriously dented Harapan’s credibility. Take for examples Syed Saddiq – he is more concerned with winning the next election rather than doing the right thing. Abdul Rashid who prefers to be crooked as long as he wins. Azmin Ali, who despite being born in the fire of Reformasi, now wants to be unapologetic to pursue an airy-fairy neo Bumi agenda. Then you have the local government minister who is more interested to make money than preserve our environment from plastic wastes. The various parties are probably giving a lot of leeway to Bersatu because of Tun’s contributionin GE14. But at some point along the way, hard decisions and major course corrections may need to be made. I dare say that if we keep to this trajectory, not only will Harapan not get additional Malay votes, you will also lose votes. You will not get additional votes because Harapan construct has never been about being ultra-racial or ultra-religious. When you pander to these people, they have no respect for you because they think you lack a backbone. They know what Harapan is – modern, more liberal, more progressive. So it’s time to behave like one. Stick to your guns and you might just win some of them over by sheer respect for your courage of conviction. The track record is going to be very clear. DAP controlled state – successful. PKR controlled state – successful. Bersatu joint ventures – not as successful. Within Harapan, the challenge is for Bersatu to accept its own weaknesses and stop behaving like it’s entitled. The sooner it does this, the sooner we can plan a smooth transition. To me, when DSAI becomes PM (whatever is said about him), that’s when we actually become new Malaysia.
#5 by Saint on Wednesday, 6 March 2019 - 3:26 pm
Uncle Kit; just proceed with the election manifesto and forget about Tun Mahathir and his formula. He was the problem in the first place; and now he is getting a second chance to do the same thing all over again and ALL people are not happy. Guts lost at this juncture will be the greatest lost to Malaysia.
#6 by good coolie on Wednesday, 6 March 2019 - 6:09 pm
I don’t think it is failure to keep election promises! It is the propaganda by PAS and UMNO that Pakatan Harapan has set out to erase the Malay-first agenda. I mean that Lim Guan Eng, Tommy Thomas, and Malunjun CJ is ample proof, to some people, of neglecting Ketuanan Melayu. Anti-PAS’s Islamic State/Hudud is now proof of Pakatan’s opposition to Islam. We have failed in the psychological game. It is time to buck up, man!
Look, Pakatan still has three years to improve the lot of Malaysians. If we can ensure stability, and curb religious extremism, foreign investment will continue to pour into Malaysia. Forget about fattening the rich Malays through cushy GLCs. Give opportunities to poor, young entrepreneurs to develop their talents. Above all, give opportunities to all Malaysians. Curb corruption. No one is entitled to be corrupt by reason of birth or religion.
Then the Rakyat will recognise your contribution. Pasumno or Umnopas can then fade away, along with other insignificant, sycophantic parties.
#7 by Bigjoe on Wednesday, 6 March 2019 - 7:45 pm
Like it or not, UMNO-PAS has declared political religo war in Malaysia. We are now THE PRE-EMINENT PLACE to debate religo-politics of the world here in Malaysia. We must invite the entire world here to this country to debate and discuss the place of religo-politics. It is no less important, perhaps even more urgent than climate change.
There is no avoiding this because there has never been a political religo war that does not turn into actual religo war. It just spiral downwards once it starts. The only reason why there is no formal declaration of religo war by UMNO is because UMNO knows that religo war ALWAYS get out of hand and it has no clue how to avoid it because there is none and they even suspect it at the back of their minds. But the temptation of religo political capital of tribalism is too great for them to walk away when they are desperate.
There is only one solution in UMNO-PAS walking into dark corners and that is to bring the light into it. It can only be done by bringing the world on the subject they want to avoid the most. Lets invite the world here and let UMNO-PAS answer them, we here non-Muslim in this country have told them for decades and they did not listen, they kept walking into it even as they benefitted from listening to us. Let the world tell them, we have already done much and cannot do enough if they want to do it.