THE two memorials for former Selangor state assemblywoman Lee Kee Hiong – one last Monday (May 6) by the cultural group in KKB and the other by folks of all races and religions in KKB on Thursday night (May 9) – as well as the setting up of two DAP branches in Hulu Selangor by army veterans were history-making.
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 are all Malaysians regardless of whether they are Malays, Chinese, Indians, Orang Asli or whether they are Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Sikhists or Taoists.
I was further demonised in the KKB by-election campaign when PAS president Tan Sri 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 its 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 the Rukun Negara.
This is “to achieve … a more perfect unity among 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 KKB state assemblywoman Pang Sock Tao to continue to such legacy, in particular, to:
- Make KKB, in the words of cultural leader Yassin Salleh into a centre of arts and culture in Malaysia and the Nusantara;
- Ensure that the KKB by-election is the first step in the political transformation of Malaysia based on the Federal Constitution and Rukun Negara where Malaysians are united with a “Malaysian First” ideology with Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim continuing as the Prime Minister in the 16th General Election (GE16); and
- Show Malaysia and the world that the multi-faith Malaysians have a common bond and are dedicated to contribute to global peace, understanding and harmony through inter-cultural, inter-religious and inter-civilisational dialogue and understanding. – May 12, 2024
Retired DAP supremo Tan Sri Lim Kit Siang was Malaysia’s longest serving opposition leader of 29 years on three separate occasions.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
