Media statement by Lim Kit Siang in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, 10^th June 2012: 

Muhyiddin has confirmed that the greatest threat to Najib’s signature 1Malaysia policy is the “Malay first, Malaysian second” DPM

Tan Sri Muhyiddinm Yassin has confirmed that the greatest threat to Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s signature 1Malaysia policy is his “Malay first, Malaysian second” Deputy Prime Minister.

In his speech yesterday, Muhyiddin said Malaysians cannot refute the fact that the future of the nation depended on the unity of the Malays and Muslims, who formed the majority.

Muhyiddin said if the Muslims split due to differences in politics or other fundamental issues related to religion, then it would be difficult to achieve peace and unity for the nation as a whole.

Muhyiddin is wrong as forming a greater majority than Malays and Muslims in the country are Malaysians regardless of religious faiths.

Muhyiddin yesterday completely repudiated Najib’s signature 1Malaysia policy, which is defined by the 1Malaysia Government Transformation Programme (GTP) Roadmap launched by Najib in his first year as Prime Minister, viz:

"The goal of 1Malaysia is to make Malaysia more vibrant, more productive and more competitive – and ultimately a greater nation: a nation where, it is hoped, every Malaysian perceives himself or herself as Malaysian first, and by race, religion, geographical region or socio-economic background second and where the principles of 1Malaysia are woven into the economic, political and social fabric of society."

It is clear that after 39 months as Najib’s Deputy Prime Minister, Muhyiddin has not become more 1Malaysia-minded but instead has remained as racist as ever as when he declared in his response to my challenge on April 1, 2010 that he was “a Malay first and then only a Malaysian”.

Muhyiddin had said: "How can I say I'm Malaysian first and Malay second? All the Malays will shun me and say that it is not proper.”

He even challenged me to declare that I was Malaysian first and Chinese second.

I never had hesitation to declare both inside Parliament and outside that I am Malaysian first and Chinese second.

It is a reflection of the failure of the Malaysian nation-building process as well as the hollowness of the 1Malaysia Policy that up to now, Najib dared not set the example to declare that he is Malaysian first and Malay second.

Just as a Malaysian who declared that he is Malaysian first and Chinese second does not make him or her less of a Chinese, similarly a person who declared that he is Malaysian first and Malay, Indian, Kadazan or Iban second does not make him or her less of a Malay, Indian, Kadazan or Iban!

If Muhyiddin still maintains that it is wrong for a Malay leader to declare that he is “Malaysian first and Malay second”, is he going to take the next logical step and propose in Cabinet and the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council to scrap the 1Malaysia Policy as a total failure after three years?

Or worse, that it is a complete fraud on Malaysians for the past three years especially as the objective of the 1Malaysia policy has not found unanimity or consensus in Barisan Nasional let alone majority support of UMNO, the political hegemon in Barisan Nasional!

Even the de facto Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir and other UMNO leaders have criticised the 1Malaysia slogan as “hollow” and “inconsistent”.

When is Najib going to be frank with Malaysians – that his signature 1Malaysia Policy is just an empty slogan without serious purpose or meaning whatsoever?

*Lim Kit Siang, DAP Parliamentary Leader & MP for Ipoh Timor