Speech by Lim Kit Siang at the DAP ceramah in Buntong, (Ipoh Barat)
on Sunday, 3rd February 2008 at 10 pm: Six apologies by
top Barisan Nasional leaders that must follow Najib’s apology for the
demolition of Hindu temple in Shah Alam on Deepavali eve
The front-page headline of the night edition of China Press is “Najib
apology – demolition of Hindu temple on Deepavali eve”.
This is a manifestation of Makkal Sakti (People’s Power) but it is a
grave error for the Barisan Nasional and MIC leadership to think that such
an apology is acceptable or satisfactory answer to the Malaysian Indian
political awakening and uprising following the seminal 30,000-people
Hindraf protest in Kuala Lumpur on Nov. 25 last year.
If Najib and the top Umno leadership are serious in wanting to making
amends for the long-standing political, economic, educational, social,
cultural religious polarization of the Malaysian Indians resulting in their
becoming the new underclass in the country, Najib’s apology must be followed
by at least six other apologies and ensuing actions, such as:
- Apology by Selangor Mentri Besar, Datuk Seri Khir Toyo as the No. 1
man in the Selangor state government who must bear full responsibility for
the demolition of the Hindu temple in Shah Alam on Deepavali eve;
- Apology by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for
Umno insensitivity in holding the Umno General Assembly last year on the
day of Deepavali – when it would be regarded as highly insensitive and
offensive if MIC, MCA or Gerakan had held their national delegates meeting
on Hari Raya Aidilfitri for instance.
- Apology by the Umno Youth deputy chief, Khairy Jamaluddin, the Prime
Minister’s son-in-law in publicly castigating the Indian news vendors for
“anti-national” actions in having a press holiday when the Umno general
assembly was being held resulting in the policy speech of the Prime
Minister and Umno President at the Umno general assembly not given
coverage the next day – when it was the fault of Umno in fixing its
general assembly on Deepevali, long a press holiday.
- Apology by MIC President and sole Indian Cabinet Minister for over 28
years in refusing to admit the fact of the marginalization of the
Malaysian Indians – a stand which he reiterated during his recent visit
to India;
- Apology by Abdullah for the detention of the five Hindraf leaders
under the Internal Security Act for fighting the cause to end the
marginalization of the Malaysian Indians – and the five should be released
immediately and unconditionally.
- Apology by Samy Vellu for the 20-year-long Maika Telekom Shares
hijacking scandal in betraying the rights and interests of Malaysian
Indians who had put their trust in him by placing their life-savings in
Maika shares.
Are these six apologies from the UMNO and MIC leaders forthcoming to
demonstrate that there is now a genuine change of heart in the top Umno
leadership to meaningfully end the marginalization of the Malaysian Indians
in the country?
*
Lim
Kit Siang, Parliamentary
Opposition Leader, MP for Ipoh Timur & DAP Central Policy and Strategic
Planning Commission Chairman