Kit Siang wants non-Malays to be equal to the poor and insecure Malays

The ordinary Malays are so poor and insecure.

Lim Kit Siang

More than half a century ago, sometime in 1969, I was asked what the DAP stood for and I explained it in eight points:

That Malaysia is a multi-racial, multilingual and multi-cultural society and that a viable Malaysian nation can only be formed if all the races and groups in the country are given an equal stake under the Malaysian sun.

That in a multi-racial society like Malaysia, violence and any ideology of force, as advocated by the Communist Party of Malaya, could only lead to the disintegration of the country because it would quickly degenerate into a racial conflict. Force and violence in all forms must be deplored.

That in a multi-racial society, if any racial group feels it is backward, either educationally, economically, culturally, linguistically or politically, then racial antagonism will be created. Every attempt must be made to remove these imbalances between the races and groups.

That poverty is not a communal problem. It is a socio-economic problem and to regard poverty as a racial problem is to increase racial antagonism in the country.

That democratic socialism can close the gap between the haves and the have-nots of all races.

Establish a clean, honest, efficient, incorruptible and effective government.

That only parliamentary democracy can prevent a racial clash. Any other form of government can lead to racial mistrust.

That communism is unconducive in a multi-racial society like Malaysia.

DAP has not changed with regard to its fundamental principles and objectives,

Umno leaders have morphed from honest and incorrupt leaders into leaders turning Malaysia into a global kleptocracy with 1MDB and a series of corruption scandals.

After six decades, Malaysia has lost its way. Instead of becoming a world-class great nation, we are in danger of becoming a kleptocracy, kakistocracy and a failed state.

The ordinary Malays are so poor and insecure.