DAP MP Lim Kit Siang urged the public to learn from the economic malaise that has befallen Sri Lanka and take the rights steps to direct Malaysia back to a right trajectory.
“During my schooling days in the 1950s, Ceylon, which later became Sri Lanka in 1972, was one of the most prosperous countries in Asia.
“In fact, it was more developed than other Asian countries like Thailand, South Korea, India, Pakistan and Burma at the time.
“Unfortunately, it later took a wrong turn in terms of its nation building policies and is now on the verge of becoming a failed state,” he said, in a buka puasa speech at Theatre Impian, Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
Sri Lanka is now facing one of its worst crises in decades as its economy is headed south, with street protests rising over shortages of fuel, power, food and medicine.
Its government had since announced that it would suspect foreign debt payment and had declared bankruptcy, alarming several financial institutions.
Great challenge ahead
It has since approached the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for assistance and had suspended trading at the Colombo Stock Exchange tomorrow.
On that note, Lim said that Malaysia itself has lost out to other nations which was behind it before Independence; such as Taiwan, South Korea, Singapore and Vietnam due to botched policies.
“Will we lose out to more countries, even to Indonesia and the Philippines, come 2040 or 2050? Can we save Malaysia from becoming another Sri Lanka?
“This is the challenge and mission of the new generation of Malaysians,” the DAP veteran added.
Lim remarked: “We have to be more conscious of the great role the young and old can play to make Malaysia a great country, particularly those aged between 18 and 21 who have chance to make a difference now. “ – April 17, 2022
