I thank everyone for attending this launch and in particular the writer, Kee Thuan Chye, for this two-volume biography.
As Kee can testify, I did not know what he was writing, and the first time I read both volumes were when they were printed. I do not agree with all that he has written, in particular his speculations, but I would recommend both volumes as an insight of my 57 years of political struggle.
I will also commend these two volumes to the PAS President, Hadi Awang, for him to substantiate his wild and preposterous allegations that I am anti-Malay, anti-Islam, anti-Royalty, communist and spreading Islamophobia or retract the allegations.
I have been retired from front-line DAP politics for over a year but I must express my surprise that differences of opinion as to how to handle certain issues have been inflated to a plot to overthrow Chow Kon Yeow as Chief Minister of Penang. I believe I am not so “retired” politically as not to be unaware of any plot to topple Chow as Penang Chief Minister.
For the past four years, Malaysia was in political turmoil. Until recently, Malaysia was in search of political stability so that we can address the issues of national unity and prosperity for all Malaysians.
Until a few months ago, there was a possibility that the Anwar Unity Government could be toppled, but that is now history.
I think we can now be assured of three or four years political stability and we must concentrate on how we could be a successful nation and be a great world-class nation that could be a model to the world in inter-racial, inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilisational dialogue, understanding, tolerance and harmony.
Diversity of races, languages, cultures and civilizations is Malaysia’s greatest strength and asset although it has presented as our greatest weakness.
The Anwar unity government is not composed of saints who are infallible. They comprise Malaysian men and women with honourable purpose and good intention to make Malaysia great again but who are capable of making mistakes. The important point is that they are capable of rectifying their mistakes.
The time to pass judgement whether the Anwar unity government has failed Malaysians is not now but in the 16th General Elections in another three or four years’ time.
The test is whether in the next three to four years, the Anwar unity government is capable to correcting the mistakes of the last few decades to make Malaysia rise up again to become a great world-class nation in education, health, economic progress and prosperity, environment, the rule of law and human rights.
Although I am retired from DAP leadership front-line politics, politics have never been far from my mind.
My thoughts are on Malaysia’s first Centennial in another three decades – will Malaysia succeed in becoming a “tiger economy” which it missed in becoming earlier or will it end up as a divided, failed and corrupt state.
I commend such thoughts to all Malaysians.
(Speech by DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang at the Penang launching of Kee Thuan Chye’s Vol. 2 biography of “Lim Kit Siang – Malaysian First” at Wembley Hotel on Sunday, 29th October at 2.30 pm)
