DAP asks govt to plan more meaningful commemoration of Tunku
DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang today criticised the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism for making "hasty last-minute preparations" in celebrating the 100th birthday of Malaysia's first prime minister, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman.
He said he was disappointed with the programme arranged by the ministry and felt that the celebration next week will be "an injustice and disservice to the memory and legacy of Tunku" because it lacked the representations of different ethnic, religious and cultural groups.
Citing an example, he said the two panel sessions on the programme have only Malay panelists and no non-Malays.
"I don't know how there could be a meaningful discussion in honour of Tunku as Bapa Malaysia when the panelists are not representative of all the races, religions, and cultures which uniquely make up a plural Malaysia," said Lim in a statement.
He added that the organising committee headed by the minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir himself should have planned a month-long and more proper commemoration of Tunku to acknowledge his contributions to the country.
DAP national chairperson Lim Kit Siang today criticised the Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism for making "hasty last-minute preparations" in celebrating the 100th birthday of Malaysia's first prime minister, the late Tunku Abdul Rahman.
He said he was disappointed with the programme arranged by the ministry and felt that the celebration next week will be "an injustice and disservice to the memory and legacy of Tunku" because it lacked the representations of different ethnic, religious and cultural groups.
Citing an example, he said the two panel sessions on the programme have only Malay panelists and no non-Malays.
"I don't know how there could be a meaningful discussion in honour of Tunku as Bapa Malaysia when the panelists are not representative of all the races, religions, and cultures which uniquely make up a plural Malaysia," said Lim in a statement.
He added that the organising committee headed by the minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir himself should have planned a month-long and more proper commemoration of Tunku to acknowledge his contributions to the country.
Tunku, born on February 8, 1903, led Malaysia to independence in 1957 and served as the country's premier until he stepped down in 1970. He passed away in 1990.
An occasion for all
Lim said the commemoration of Tunku should involve ruling and opposition parties, all ethnic and religious groups, and world leaders who would attend the upcoming Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in Kuala Lumpur later this month.
"This is an occasion for all Malaysians to come together to pay tribute to a man who laid the foundations for a modern, democratic and secular Malaysia welded out of a diverse mixture of ethnicities, faiths and cultures.
"The commemoration, coinciding with the NAM Summit will give global recognition to Tunku's contribution in the international arena most notably his pioneering stand against apartheid in 1961 which forced South Africa out of the Commonwealth," he said.
He said one of Tunku's greatest legacies was the founding of the constitutional principle that Malaysia is a tolerant and progressive nation with Islam as the official religion instead of being an Islamic state.
Not too late
The DAP chief said the party had suggested that a historic and unprecedented national inter-religious prayer meeting be held to kick-start the month-long commemoration but there has been no response from the authorities to the proposal.
He added it was clear that the government would have forgotten the Tunku's birthday if not for DAP's reminder last month.
"This is why Pos Malaysia is not ready to launch the commemorative stamps today in conjunction with Tunku's birthday as it would only be ready on March 3," he said.
However, he said it is not too late for the Cabinet to organise a "more high-level, imaginative and inspirational month to commemorate Tunku's centennial birthday".
