Media statement by Lim Guan Eng in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, 12^th July 2011: 

Barisan Nasional and its UMNO cohorts seem hell-bent on insulting all Malaysians by continually making racist and disrespectful statements 

Today, all DAP assemblymen have been suspended from the Malacca State Assembly for standing their ground in demanding Malacca Chief Minister Ali Rustam retract his allegations that gambling is part of Chinese culture. The suspension of Khoo Poay Tiong (Ayer Keroh), Betty Chew (Kota Laksamana), Lim Jack Wong (Bachang) and Tey Kok Kiew (Bandar Hilir) follows the suspension of Goh Leong San (Kesidang) yesterday over the same reason.

Instead of repenting over such a controversial and narrow-minded remark, Ali Rustam added that "as we generally know, the Chinese love to gamble and it's part of their culture".

The Barisan Nasional is once again stooping to its racial games, now that they feel threatened when tens of thousands of Malaysians from all walks of life turned up last weekend to protest against their regime.

In the aftermath of the Bersih 2.0 rally, they first played on Malay sentiments by claiming that the Malay community have become lackeys and were used to fulfil the non-Malays' agenda. To justify their allegation, they claim that nearly all the participants in the rally were Malays while the non-Malays stayed behind.

Such a baseless claim is categorically untrue as footage and photos of the rally that are available online and in various foreign media show strong multiracial participation. In fact, one of the key compliments raised by participants in the rally was the fact that all Malaysians, whether Malay, Chinese or Indian, of varying ages and social backgrounds, had the courage and bravery to stand up for their rights in the face of police hostility and the threat of arrest.

Then they focused their targets on the Indian community by attacking Bersih Chairperson Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, with both Datuk Ibrahim Ali and Datuk Seri Ali Rustam calling for her citizenship to be revoked, even though such a demand is unconstitutional and seditious.

Now, Ali Rustam is once again displaying his shallow and racist mindset by insulting the Chinese community. The fact is that gambling was never part of the Chinese culture. However, because he and the rest of his party are unable to explain why they have to issue gambling licenses, they attempt to apportion blame on the Chinese.

This is another clear example of BN leaders treating Malaysians with disrespect. When they are faced with mounting pressure and hostile public opinion, they once again turn to the only avenue they know - racial politics.

First the BN leaders insult the Malays, then the Indians and now the Chinese. Is this what they mean by 1Malaysia? If the BN truly respects the Prime Minister's call for 1Malaysia, then they should make a public apology to all Malaysians for such derogatory remarks.

In addition, the Prime Minister must now take swift and firm action on Chief Minister Ali Rustam, who has insulted both the Indian and Chinese communities. Such openly racist remarks should never have come from a Chief Minister.

*Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary General & MP for Bagan