Kit Siang kept democracy alive during lean years
P Uthayakumar<br>Secretary-GeneralPublished: Feb 28, 2001 7:24 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
I refer to the letter, [#1]Let go, Kit Siang[/#] (Feb 27), by Dr Ananthan Krishnan of Puchong. It must not be forgotten that Lim Kit Siang and DAP held the opposition fort for over 30 years during the worst of bad times for the opposition and kept democracy alive.
Even in cases when DAP knew that it would in all likelihood lose, it still fielded candidates so as not to give Barisan Nasional a walkover and also to keep democracy alive. This actually laid the foundation for what opposition politics is focused on today - to deprive BN of its two-thirds majority and maybe even form the next government.
Those were the days when no one would like to be associated with the opposition, i.e. DAP, let alone be seen with them, unlike the situation today.
Where were the majority of members from Keadilan then? Enjoying the perks as well? When DAP was sweating it out alone, maybe together with PAS. It must not be forgotten that even PAS at one time was in BN .When the People's Progressive Party (PPP), Gerakan and PAS took the easy way out by joining BN, DAP stayed put to hold the opposition fort, keeping democracy alive and, most importantly, to put their foot down on their Malaysian Malaysia concept, i.e. the practice of multiracial politics and justice for all.
During those days and in fact until September 1998, opposition politics was made out to be pro-Chinese and in fact anti-Malay by the BN regime (despite the fact that at one time the opposition had more than 10 Malaysian Indian MPs in Parliament, mostly in Chinese majority constituencies). This was also at a time when Dr Chandra Muzaffar was still organising human rights conventions and inviting Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to officiate the same.
Today Chandra is playing racial politics more than Umno with Indian candidates rejected outright on the basis of their race, as was the case in the Teluk Kemang and Lunas by-elections. Where is the power-sharing concept espoused by Keadilan, which DAP had always adhered to?
At least Kit Siang and DAP rooted not for a Chinese candidate but an Indian (though he made an about-turn and went to Lunas at the last minute to show his support, upsetting a large section of the Indian community), yet they are still accused of being a Chinese party.
We want a truly multiracial political scenario in Malaysia (better than the one Umno has produced) and to this effect Kit Siang and DAP are still relevant. We are truly grateful to Kit Siang and DAP. The Indians have always appreciated and seen Kit Siang as their hero.
Kit Siang should keep his spirits up and not let others intimidate him.
Even in cases when DAP knew that it would in all likelihood lose, it still fielded candidates so as not to give Barisan Nasional a walkover and also to keep democracy alive. This actually laid the foundation for what opposition politics is focused on today - to deprive BN of its two-thirds majority and maybe even form the next government.
Those were the days when no one would like to be associated with the opposition, i.e. DAP, let alone be seen with them, unlike the situation today.
Where were the majority of members from Keadilan then? Enjoying the perks as well? When DAP was sweating it out alone, maybe together with PAS. It must not be forgotten that even PAS at one time was in BN .When the People's Progressive Party (PPP), Gerakan and PAS took the easy way out by joining BN, DAP stayed put to hold the opposition fort, keeping democracy alive and, most importantly, to put their foot down on their Malaysian Malaysia concept, i.e. the practice of multiracial politics and justice for all.
During those days and in fact until September 1998, opposition politics was made out to be pro-Chinese and in fact anti-Malay by the BN regime (despite the fact that at one time the opposition had more than 10 Malaysian Indian MPs in Parliament, mostly in Chinese majority constituencies). This was also at a time when Dr Chandra Muzaffar was still organising human rights conventions and inviting Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to officiate the same.
Today Chandra is playing racial politics more than Umno with Indian candidates rejected outright on the basis of their race, as was the case in the Teluk Kemang and Lunas by-elections. Where is the power-sharing concept espoused by Keadilan, which DAP had always adhered to?
At least Kit Siang and DAP rooted not for a Chinese candidate but an Indian (though he made an about-turn and went to Lunas at the last minute to show his support, upsetting a large section of the Indian community), yet they are still accused of being a Chinese party.
We want a truly multiracial political scenario in Malaysia (better than the one Umno has produced) and to this effect Kit Siang and DAP are still relevant. We are truly grateful to Kit Siang and DAP. The Indians have always appreciated and seen Kit Siang as their hero.
Kit Siang should keep his spirits up and not let others intimidate him.
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