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MCA, Gerakan And SUPP Should Apologise To The Chinese Community For Failing To Raise In Cabinet That The Malaysian Government Change Its Stand By Withdrawing Its Support For Japan As A Permanent Member Of The United Nations Security Council. ___________________________________________ Press Statement by Lim Guan Eng -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Petaling Jaya, Friday): MCA, Gerakan and SUPP should apologise to the Chinese community for failing to raise in Cabinet that the Malaysian government change its stand by withdrawing its support for Japan as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. DAP regrets the reaffirmation by Foreign Minister Datuk Syed Hamid Albar supporting  Japan as an additional permanent member to the existing five permanent members - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States despite Japan ignoring the lessons of World War II. Whilst DAP agrees there is a need for United Nations reform as the United Nations of post-second world war is no longer in tune with the globalised world of today, Japan must prove its commitment as a responsible partner for peace and justice. Where is the justice when Japan refuses to acknowledge its role as an aggressor and the sufferings of millions who died, were raped and tortured for the sake of Japan’s imperialistic ambitions? DAP supports the decision by Germany to be a permanent member as Germany as not only atoned for starting the Second World War but made full restitution and voluntary war reparations. The Malaysian government should reconsider its support for Japan based on 4 reasons:- 1.   The refusal by Japan to apologise sincerely and unconditionally for the atrocities committed against innocent citizens of South Korea, Taiwan, China and South-East Asia during the Second World War whether killing, raping, torturing and even forcing young girls to be comfort women to prostitute for Japanese Imperial Army (where even Malay women were victimized as stated in the new book “Forgotten Armies” by two Cambridge professors Christopher Bayly and Tim Harper); 2.   The unjustifiable act of Japan of changing history by refusing to correct its secondary school textbooks to reflect the actual truth of Japan’s aggression and invasion of Asian countries; 3.    The refusal by Japan MPs to stop paying its annual respects to the sacrifices of Japanese Imperial Army in the Shinto religious war memorial; and 4.    The failure of Japan to compensate for its past actions whether financially or building a memorial in Japan for the victims of its atrocities. The Malaysian government should stop its immoral and stubborn support for Japan’s application without consideration for the feelings and sufferings of the victims of Japanese occupation. The decision by the Malaysian government to support Japan’s application together with Germany is disproportionate, unbalanced and even inconsistent because it equates refusal to shoulder blame on the one hand with repentance on the other. The book “Forgotten Armies” showed that the Chinese in Malaya were not the only victims, Malays and Indians suffered too. By refusing to support the stand of all Chinese associations, MCA, Gerakan and SUPP have gone against the wishes of the Chinese community demanding that Malaysia withdraw its support for Japan on moral and humanitarian grounds. (13/05/2005) *  Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary-General