THERE seems to be a contrast of fortune for DAP based on the revelation by its retired supremo Lim Kit Siang at the party’s Tanjong thanksgiving dinner at the Red Rock Hotel in Penang last night.
While Tanjong remains the bastion of what he dubbed as “the Malaysian Dream for a free, just, democratic and prosperous Malaysia” for over three decades since he became a MP there in 1986, the veteran lawmaker is concerned with the current flooding of toxic politics of lies, fear, hate, race and religion even in the aftermath of the 15th General Election (GE15).
If such phenomenon is allowed to rear its ugly head, Kit Siang warned that it will both undo DAP’s quest in solidifying its support base while seeing to it that Malaysia ends up “being a divided, failed and kleptocratic state”.
The 81-year-old former Iskandar Puteri MP with a political career spanning 57 years is surely well aware that “a big chunk” of the toxic politics is directed at DAP which can only mean that all unless the government of the day takes a firm, zero-tolerance stance from the outset, the party’s struggle to build a plural Malaysia may never see the light of day.
“Freedom of expression does not mean freedom to tell lies and incite racial and religious fear and hatred,” reiterated Kit Siang. “We must defend responsible freedom of expression but condemn irresponsible toxic, extremist and divisive politics of lies, fear, hate, race and religion.”
On the bright side, the former Opposition leader congratulated Penang DAP for its excellent showing in GE15 which culminated in the opposing candidates at four parliamentary constituencies losing their deposits.
The first is in Tanjong where Lim Hui Ying (Kit Siang’s daughter) won with 83.8% of the voter turnout – and whereby two opposing candidates lost their deposits, one with 8.5% and the other with 6.6% of the votes.
The second is Bagan where Lim Guan Eng (DAP chairman and Kit Siang’s son) won with 81.2% of the voter turnout – with the three opposing candidates losing their deposits with 8.9%, 7.8% and 1.9% of the votes respectively.
The third is Bukit Gelugor where Ramkarpal Singh (son of Kit Siang’s comrade, the late Karpal Singh) won with 82.7% of the voter turnout while the two opposing candidates lost their deposits with 9.4% and 7.4% of the votes respectively.
The fourth is Bukit Bendera where Syerleena Abdul Rashid won with 79% of the voter turnout and with the four opposing candidates losing their deposits with 10.8%, 8.7%, 1.1% and 0.5% of the votes respectively.
“There are altogether 12 parliamentary seats won by the DAP in the GE15 where all the opposing candidates to DAP lost their deposits,” added Kit Siang. – Dec 24, 2022
