I thank the Federation of Malaya Orchid Society for the great honour of having an orchid named after me.
I have retired from DAP frontline politics but it is not possible to retire from life unless you go to another world.
I have been thinking about the future of humanity. We are in the era of AI and on the brink of general space travel.
But the biggest worry of thinkers in the world is whether there will be war between the United States and Chima as a World War III will destroy mankind – rendering nought the promises of AI and general Space Travel.
An ASEAN geopolitical strategist has forecast the next 10 years as the most exciting and far-reaching for mankind.
I have been reading about human civilizations. I believe that civilization dialogue and harmony can avoid the human catastrophe as a World War III will bring civilization to nought, and that Penang and Malaysia can contribute to this process to ensure that there is no World War III.
Penang and Malaysia should be world examples of “Unity in ‘Diversity”
We have diverse races, languages, religions, cultures and civilizations in Malaysia – a microcosm of the new world order we want to build.
We have Islam, Confucianism,. Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity, Taoism, Sikhism and others.
Penang and Malaysia should leverage on this “Unity in diversity”, as highlighted by the Constitution and the Rukun Negara, to contribute to global civilization dialogue and harmony and to save mankind from a war between US and China and a World War III.
(Speech by DA{P veteran Lim Kit Siang at the Penang Orchid Show to commemorate World Ozone Day 2024 at Straits Quay, Penang on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2024 at 5 pm)