The 12-day meeting of July 2019 Parliament ends today with two great feats – the Constitution Amendment Bill to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 years and the first reading of the long-awaited Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC) Bill.

The unanimous parliamentary support for the constitutional amendment to lower the voting age from 21 to 18 years is a historic occasion for Malaysia and a wish come true for me 48 years after my first raising the issue in Parliament in 1971.

In 1971, when I raised the issue in an adjournment speech, the countries which had already given the right to vote to their 18-year-olds included the United Kingdom, Turkey, Poland, Canada and Germany.

The countries which had lowered the voting age of 21 to 18 since my speech in Parliament on the issue in 1971 included the Netherlands, United States, Finland, Sweden, Ireland, Philippines, Australia, France, New Zealand, Italy, Trinidad and Tobago, Denmark, Spain, Peru, Belgium, India, Switzerland, Austria, Estonia, Hong Kong, Liechtenstein, Jordan, Pakistan, Morocco, Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia and Japan.

If the DAP is a racist Chinese political party which dominated the Pakatan Harapan government, as is preached by leaders of an irresponsible political alliance of klepto-theocracy, the DAP would have stopped the constitutional amendment in its tracks, as there would be a greater increase of Malay voters as compared to Chinese voters because of the demographic composition in the country.

It is time however for Malaysians to think of themselves not just as Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans and Ibans, but even more important, think of themselves as Malaysians who share the common dream to make Malaysia a top world-class nation which is respected by the world for our democracy, good governance, social justice and economic prowess.

What has been disturbing thinking Malaysians, however, is that a new evil is stalking the land, flying the flag of klepto-theocracy, seeking to destroy the new unity of Malaysians who made the historic decision of the 14th General Election to create a New Malaysia with a peaceful and democratic change of Federal government – the first time in six decades.

This new evil stalking the land wants destroy the unity of Malaysians by inciting distrust and hatred, particularly race against race and religion against religion, and destroy the hope of Malaysians for a New Malaysia of unity, excellence, freedom, justice and integrity and is totally immoral.

I have composed a poem on this new evil stalking the land:

An evil stalking the land

On May 9, 2018, history was made
Malaysians saved the nation from kleptocracy
And the fate of a failed and rogue state
Ensure Malaysians in future will not suffer like Venezuelans of today.

A beginning was made to build a New Malaysia
Of unity, excellence, freedom, justice and integrity
Of Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, region or status
A top world-class nation respected by the world!

But klepto-theocracy has come as a new evil stalking the land
Block the reset of nation-building policies
Sow distrust and hatred among Malaysians,
Pit race against race, religion against religion.

Swamp Parliament and nation with lies and falsehoods
Like DAP is the master of Pakatan Harapan Government,
That DAP is Chinese, Christian and Communist,
Out to destroy Malay race and Islamic faith.

Such exploitation of 3Rs issues failed in the 14GE,
Now they have returned with vengeance rising to new pitch
Of abuse and manipulation in 3R politicking
Let us crush these desperadoes to fly high the flag of New Malaysia.

(Media Statement by DAP MP for Iskandar Puteri Lim Kit Siang in Parliament on Thursday, 18th July 2019)