History was made in Kuala Kubu Baharu yesterday.
The two memorials for former Selangor State Assemblywoman Lee Kee Hiong — one last Monday by the cultural group in KKB and the other by the people of all races and religions in KKB on Thursday night — were history-making, as well as the two DAP branches in Hulu Selangor formed by Angkatan Tentera Malaysia (ATM) veterans.
They testified to the fact that the former State Assemblywoman had looked after the interests and welfare of all NGOs and constituents in KKB regardless of race or religion, as they were all Malaysians, regardless of whether they are Malays, Chinese, Indians, Orang Asli or whether Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Sikkhists, Taoists.
I was further demonised in the KKB by-election campaign, when the PAS President, Abdul Hadi Awang, alleged that DAP’s campaign for a Malaysian Malaysia was to eliminate all races in Malaysia — but the campaign of lies, falsehood and disinformation by PAS leaders were losing their bite.
Hadi cannot be more wrong. DAP’s Malaysian Malaysia campaign was not to eliminate racial and religious groups in Malaysia, but to fulfil the vision and philosophy as laid out by Rukun Negara, “to achieve … a more PERFECT UNITY amongst the whole of her society”, “to preserve… a DEMOCRATIC WAY OF LIFE”, “to create… a just society where the prosperity of the country can be enjoyed together in a FAIR and EQUITABLE manner”, “to guarantee… a LIBERAL approach towards her rich and varied cultural traditions”, and “to build… a PROGRESSIVE society that will make use of SCIENCE and modern TECHNOLOGY”.
But history cannot stand still. It is up to the new State Assemblywoman for KKB, Pang Sock Tao, to continue to make history, in particular, to
- MAKE KKB, in the words of cultural leader Yassin Salleh, into a centre of arts and culture in Malaysia and Nusantara;
- ENSURE that KKB by-election is the first step in the political transformation of Malaysia based on the Malaysian Constitution and Rukun Negara where Malaysians are united with a “Malaysian First” ideology, with Anwar Ibrahim continuing as the Prime Minister in the 16th General Election; and
- SHOW Malaysia and the world that while Malaysians remain separately Malays, Chinese, Indians, Dayaks, Kadazans or Muslim, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Sikkhists, Taoists, we have a common bond as Malaysians and are dedicated to contribute to global peace, understanding and harmony through inter-cultural, inter-religious and inter-civilisational dialogue and understanding.
(Media Statement by DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang on the Kuala Kubu Baharu by-election results)