Media Statement by Liew Chin Tong in Bukit Gantang on Thursday, 2^nd April 2009:

One Malaysia remains one expensive, shambolic publicity stunt

“One should judge me by my actions,” said Najib Tun Razak, after assuming his new position as UMNO President. The rhetorical flourishes of the in-coming Prime Minister is reaching unprecedented heights of incredulity and ridiculousness when measured against his actions over the last 2 months, particularly the coup he had engineered and sponsored in Perak at the beginning of February 2009. One need not look any further for evidence of the hypocrisy and the utter emptiness of Najib’s latest publicity stunt than the One Malaysia concept he expounds on his recently minted interactive website. www.1malaysia.com.my.

The stated purpose of One Malaysia website is as follows:

“1Malaysia is intended to provide a free and open forum to discuss the things that matter deeply to us as a Nation. It provides a chance to express and explore the many perspectives of our fellow citizens. What makes Malaysia unique is the diversity of our peoples. 1Malaysia’s goal is to preserve and enhance this unity in diversity which has always been our strength and remains our best hope for the future. I hope this Website will initiate an open and vital dialogue exploring our Malaysian identity, purpose, and direction. I encourage each of you to join me in defining our Malaysia and the role we must play in its future. Each of us — despite our differences — shares a desire for a better tomorrow. Each of us wants opportunity, respect, friendship, and understanding.”

It is glaringly clear that Najib has failed to walk the talk of the high ideals and values stated above. Instead of creating a free and open space for the articulation of our common concerns and national aspirations, the simple demands and the legitimate expectations of all fair-minded and peace-loving citizens in Perak have been snuffed out through the unconstitutional seizure of power led by Najib himself (at least 54% of the electorate had voted for the Pakatan Rakyat state government under the leadership of Datuk Seri Nizar bin Jamaluddin). Such words like ‘open dialogue’, ‘respect, friendship and understanding’, clearly have no substance since these were the very values that were violated in the power grab in Perak.

Najib and the BN does not respect the right of the Perak people to elect the government of their choice. As such his One Malaysia concept is a sham of mammoth proportions and suffers the same fate as Najib, the man himself. Both the man and the concept do not command the confidence of all right-thinking and fair-minded Malaysians because his actions do not match up to his words.

One Malaysia remains one expensive, shambolic publicity stunt.

* Liew Chin Tong, DAP International Secretary & MP for Bukit Bendera