KUALA LUMPUR – DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang last night turned down the role of party mentor, saying that his retirement from active politics would exclude him from taking up such positions.
The Iskandar Puteri MP told the party’s powerful central executive committee (CEC) that there was no need to carve out a position for him in the party structure as he will continue to support the party even as an ordinary member.
“I informed Anthony Loke a few days earlier of my decision – that he can expect my full support for his leadership as the sixth DAP secretary-general although I have no party position,” he said in his speech at a CEC event that was later distributed to the press.
Lim, a DAP founding member, said the party started with aspirations to develop Malaysia into a world-class nation, but suffered from propaganda and demonisation over half a century with accusations of being anti-Malay, anti-Islam, and for being communists.
He said the country has to figure out how to reverse these effects created by false perceptions or risk falling short again to neighbouring countries and their ambitions of becoming regional leaders.
“DAP had never been anti any race or religion, because this is contrary to our basic beliefs that Malaysia is a plural and diverse multi-racial, multi-lingual, multi-religious, and multicultural nation,” he said.
The veteran noted how he had in 1978 moved for an anti-hopping law that would trigger a by-election if lawmakers defected to be drafted, especially after DAP themselves lost 15 lawmakers to defectors.
“I did not expect to have to wait for half a century to put it on the statute books. This has still to be done but it shows DAP’s consistency in ensuring the political integrity of MPs,” he said.
Lim also warned that Malaysia’s brain drain could worsen if lopsided policies are not addressed, further stifling the country’s surge towards becoming world-class.
“Post-Covid-19 pandemic, will the second Malaysian diaspora take off, where the best and brightest Malaysians opt to stay overseas instead of being at home to make Malaysia a world-class great nation, confirming Malaysia in the trajectory of a kleptocracy, kakistocracy, and a failed state?” he said.
Lim last month announced his retirement from active politics and from any DAP leadership roles after being an active and vocal member for 56 years. – The Vibes, April 13, 2022
