Opening Speech at the DAP 40th Anniversary Celebration
by Lim Guan Eng

(Federal Hotel, Saturday): Four decades ago a group of men formed the DAP because they believed in the great Malaysian Dream. Our founding Chairman Dr Chen Man Hin declared that this newly independent nation formed of disparate races, religions and cultures can be united by a common identity not based on race or religion but on a democratic socialist ideal seeking to abolish poverty, ignorance, disease and all forms of social injustice and economic exploitation.

In focusing on wiping out socio-economic injustices, DAP National Vice-Chair Mohd Nor Jetty said,

“the capitalist system in which the large proportion of wealth produced is intercepted and hoarded by the non-producers through rent, interests or profits tends to make the rich richer and the poor poorer, which we as socialists decry and is precisely what Islam also abhors.”

Malaysian Malaysia was the DAP’s non-racial response to UMNO’s call for Malay unity, MCA’s call for Chinese unity and MIC’s call for Indian unity at the expense of Malaysian unity. Unlike UMNO, MCA or MIC, DAP believed that we should be Malaysians first and last. That bangsa agama dan Negara should not refer only to one particular race or religion but one Malaysian nation for Malaysians practicing freedom of religion.

As the then Rocket Editor Lim Kit Siang wrote in one of his first editorials,

“All Malaysians of reason and goodwill must make a heart-searching reappraisal as to what they conceive to be Malaysia’s destiny. If it is the common hope that our destiny is a multi-racial nation where there shall be no discrimination on the grounds of race, colour or creed, then there must be agreement on certain fundamentals if a multi-racial nation is to succeed. These fundamentals are:

As a multi-racial nation, Malaysia does not belong to any one particular race. In consequence, no race should regard itself as typically Malaysian, a norm to which the other races must conform.
 

All the languages spoken by Malaysians of different origins are Malaysian languages. To describe Chinese or Tamil as foreign languages is tantamount to saying Malaysian Chinese or Indians are foreigners.
 

The national language shall be the common language as a force of unity and not division.  The use of mother tongue as the media of instruction in an educational system which is completely Malaysian in outlook.

If there is no agreement on these fundamentals, then clearly there is no will or determination to build a multi-racial nation.”

DAP was alone in these 40 years in pursuit of this Malaysian dream. We were mocked that the idea of a national Malaysian consciousness was not practical when racial or religious prejudices ruled. We were even prosecuted and jailed for refusing to abandon commitment to a Malaysian Malaysia that corruption, poverty and discriminatory acts were the real dangers to national unity. As Confucious said, “A repressive government is indeed more frightening than a tiger.”

But even though we walked alone we were never lonely because we had the support of millions of Malaysians who subscribed to our Malaysian Malaysia ideal. Your support have enabled us to courageously withstand blows after blows.

We are proud that DAP is still here after 40 years. To be still standing here today is a remarkable testament to our leaders and members who have not only lost their liberty but also shed sweat tears and blood.

For that we thank Malaysians from all walks of life Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan, Ibans regardless of race, creed or religion. Especially the middle-class and poor who have sustained DAP through all our trials and tribulations. You have made our sacrifices worthwhile in pursuit of this Malaysian Dream.

I wish to pause here to thank all the leaders gathered here who at one time of another suffered detention. People like Karpal Singh, Lim Kit Siang, P. Patto, Chian Heng Kai, Chan Kok Kit, Dr Tan Seng Giaw, Lau Dak Kee, V. David, Kerk Kim Hock, Tan Kok Wai, Dr Eng Seng Chai, Sim Tong Him, Ngoi Thiam Woh and myself.

Your sacrifices have enabled us to persevere in our belief that Malaysians are a harmonious and tolerant lot who would prefer to unite as Malaysians and progress together than divide into their individual and separate racial compartments where progress is measured only by competing against each other and not together.

We need to begin a new chapter to sustain this struggle in the next 40 years.

The Malaysian First chapter!

MALAYSIAN FIRST is a continuation of DAP’s original struggle for a Malaysian Malaysia. Malaysian First stresses the dual purpose of achieving national unity and economic prosperity amongst all Malaysians.

First, national unity should be based not on race or religion but on a common identity centered on democracy, freedom, justice, integrity and human dignity. Secondly the importance of becoming global champions in academic excellence, economic competitiveness, technological merit and knowledge management to ensure economic prosperity that is shared equitably with all Malaysians.

The first limb: National Unity

If we should not identify ourselves based on the colour of our skin or the God we pray, then what is the meaning of being Malaysian? DAP submits that being Malaysian should depend on certain universal values we share and subscribe, focusing particularly on democracy, freedom, justice, integrity and human dignity.

Being a Malaysian should mean:-

1. upholding democratic values where people can participate in decision-making by electing their representatives  at all levels, including local government elections;

2. enjoying basic human rights and freedoms, especially freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear.(Roosevelt);

3. Justice and equality goes together in upholding the rule of law “where injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere;(Martin Luther King);

4. Integrity is not just being closer to God but upholding transparency and accountability would make us more successful in battling the scourge of corruption;

5. The inalienable right of every human to be treated with dignity and respect enjoying equal political rights as a citizen of Malaysia.

This is the first limb of Malaysian First where these 5 values of democracy, freedom, justice, integrity and human dignity are values that all Malaysians can associate and take pride in.

The Second Limb: Ensuring Economic Prosperity

National unity and economic progress are interdependent. Only with national unity can we secure the basis for economic progress. And only with economic progress can national unity be sustained.

Malaysia has come a long way, from the labour-driven days of its agriculture era of the 1960s and 1970s, to its investment-driven industrial era of the 1980s, followed by the productivity-driven technology era of the 1990s, and the knowledge era of the 2000s. Different economic eras require different managerial leadership competencies. But the task of nation-building remains the same.

Just as Malaysian managers have been trained and developed to meet these competency requirements of the various economic eras, we must train our leaders to think Malaysian, be competent and have the highest standards. We have much to be concerned about the culture of mediocrity, patronage and quotas in government that questions their ability to manage the economy.

The root problem is that we have too few competitive Malaysian companies whose success is not dependent on political patronage or domestic protection, especially the steel and national cars sectors. Malaysia should learn from South Korea and Taiwan whose commitment towards excellence and cost competitiveness has created world-class companies like ACER, Hyndai and Samsung. Hyundai and Posco Steel Corp of South Korea has succeeded where Proton and the corrupt-ridden Perwaja has failed. 

Instead of promoting transparency, we promote corruption. Instead of merit, we have quotas. Instead of technical “know-how” we have political “know-who”. Instead of value-creation, we have rent-seeking. Instead of good governance, we have black magic. Lack of competitiveness, government patronage, inefficiency and poor productivity is the price we pay for the government’s failure to reform our economy.

DAP is therefore not surprised why the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange(KLSE) is the worst performer in Asia last year(negative 0.8%) or over the last 3 years. What is surprising is Government-Linked Corporations(GLCs), which contribute RM260 billion (US$69 billion) or 36% of Malaysia’s market capitalisation and employ five per cent of its workforce, can perform even worse than the KLSE. MAS and Proton are the outstanding examples of such losses and poor performance.  

The New Economic Policy (NEP) is to blame with its system of patronage that favours only the elite few Malays at the expense of the poor Malays as well as unfair and discriminatory policies that only divides the nation. Even though absolute poverty has declined to less than 5.1% from 49.3% in 1970, income inequality as measured by the Gini coefficient has remained almost the same at 49.2 as compared to 51 in 1970.

Malaysia has consistently shown the worst income disparity between the rich and poor in South East Asia where the richest 10% in Malaysia controls 38.4% of our economic income as compared to our poorest 10% controlling only 1.7%. We can be proud of reducing absolute poverty levels but we should equally be ashamed that Malaysians have the most unfair distribution of wealth in South-East Asia.

The fuel hike has only highlighted how the nation’s oil resources, with RM 500 billion profits by Petronas since 1971, are not shared with the people whilst at the same time the people are expected to bear the burdens. The Prime Minister’s promises that the RM 4.4 billion subsidy savings from the 30 cents fuel hike will be used for the people’s benefit is unconvincing when the people did not benefit from the billions saved from the 5 previous fuel hikes since May 2004.

We need a Malaysian First Economic policy emphasizing wealth creation and an equitable wealth distribution relying on academic excellence, economic competitiveness, technological merit and knowledge management as well as based on the principle that the benefits and burdens are to be shared equitably.

Vision 2020 Of A Developed Malaysian Nation For All

A government’s basic duty is to establish the framework and conditions that ensure opportunity and security for all. Only then can we enjoy economic prosperity equitably, peacefully and with human dignity. 

There is no substitute for hard work if we want to put DAP values of Malaysian First into action. Our challenge is difficult and even painful - to convince Malaysians that we are a party of Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans, Ibans and Orang Asli.  We need to continue to sustain this struggle for the future generation in the hope that they may live in joy as an equal under the Malaysian sun without the ugly influences of repression, prejudice, ignorance and greed.

Malaysians stand united in achieving Vision 2020 of making Malaysia a developed country. Let us all ensure that DAP is still around then to make sure we achieve it and that every Malaysian is given his due portion. Let us pursue this Malaysian Dream that we are seen not as Malays, Chinese and Indians but as 100% Malaysians with equal rights and opportunities and whose hard work will be rewarded richly and enjoyed in a safe and secure environment. Let us make Malaysian First.

(18/03/2006)