I was in Seremban yesterday for the launching ceremony by the Transport Minister and DAP Secretary-General Anthony Loke to rename Jalan Temiang in Seremban to Jalan Dr. Chen Man Hin.
I was 25 years old and Dr. Chen was 42 years old when the DAP was registered 57 years ago in 1966, and we set out on the journey to start DAP’s Malaysian Dream where Malaysians regardless of race, religion and region, were united to prove to the world that a Third World country could practise parliamentary democracy, the rule of law and good governance principles to become a progressive and prosperous country and be a role model to the world of inter-ethnic, inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilisation dialogue, understanding, tolerance and harmony.
I was editor of the DAP publication, the Rocket, and I can still remember that in 1966, Dr. Chen Man Han crossed swords with a person who later became Prime Minister twice for 24 years or 40 per cent of Malaysian history since Independence in 1957 and I carried their writings in the Rocket in 1966.
Dr. Chen, though China-born, became a towering Malaysian, serving all Malaysians regardless of race and religion, whether in his medical profession or in politics, as he initiated the Malaysian Dream for Malaysian unity and purpose, while his antagonist became a Towering Malay who ended up by losing his parliamentary deposit in the 15th General Election.
Dr. Chen advised me not to return to Kuala Lumpur when I was stranded in Singapore for three days after the May 13, 1969 riots from May 15-17, 1969 as I was on the ISA blacklist and would be arrested.
I was in Kota Kinabalu when the May 13, 1969 riots took place in Kuala Lumpur. I was speaking at a public rally in Kota Kinabalu when someone said from the back of the stage that there had been riots in Kuala Lumpur.
On the morning on May 14, I was banned from Sabah not because of the May 13, 1969 riots but because of my public rally speech the night before attacking the then Sabah Chief Minister, Tun Mustapha for his excesses and abuses of power.
I missed the 3 pm flight from Kota Kinabalu on May 14, 1969 as I was late, and it was fortunate that I missed the flight, as a posse of Bajau horsemen had gone to the Kota Kinabalu Airport to “finish me off” for my attacks on Tun Mustapha, but were shoo-ed away by the Special Branch.
I took the 3 pm flight out of Kota Kinabalu on May 15, but as the curfew was on at the Subang International Airport, I was stranded in Singapore for three days.
During those three days, I maintained contact with party leaders and family members, and they all advised me, including Dr. Chen, not to return as I was on the Internal Security Act (ISA) “blacklist” and would be arrested on my return.
I felt otherwise, as I felt I should be back with the people who had just elected me as MP for Bandar Melaka to share with their ordeal.
This I did on May 18, 1969 against the advice of Dr Chen and other party leaders as well as my family members and was arrested at the Subang International Airport and started my first ISA detention.
I must thank the former Inspector-General of Police, Tun Hanif Omar, for getting the document of my statement I made to the police while in police custody at the Kuala Selangor Police Station lock-up under the Internal Security Act declassified when I sued him for defamation.
The 54-year-old document stated my commitment to the Malaysian Dream of uniting a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual, multi-religious and multi-cultural nation by giving to all Malaysians an equal stake under the Malaysian sun and why communism is inappropriate solution to Malaysia’s problems.
And yet I became a victim of the politics of lies, falsehoods and fake news and I was accused of being a communist in the last five years although in the earlier 50 years nobody made that accusation, just like I was accused of causing the May 13, 1969 riots although nobody made that accusation in the first four decades after 1969.
But these lies, falsehoods and fake news cannot be substantiated because as they are purely lies, falsehoods and fake news, which no honest, responsible and respected political leader would have any association.
In fact, during my detention in Muar, I wrote a letter to the then Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman on August 4, 1969 where I said:
“The May 10 General Elections result was a defeat for the Alliance Party. But it was a graver blow to the MCP.
“During the general elections campaign, the MCP and open auxiliaries campaigned for a boycott of elections to discredit parliamentary democracy and to prepare the political base for its second armed insurrection.
“The people rejected the MCP line and came out solidly to vote. This proved that the people had faith in the democratic process to peacefully bring about the changes they want.
“The result of May 10 was the people’s verdict for democracy, as against the MCP campaign. There was joy and expectancy after the results, not to deprive anyone of his rights, but at the new hope to work for a more just, equal and fulfilling society.
“The May 13 disturbances and the subsequent events, however, had greatly undermined the people’s faith in democracy.”
Yet I became a victim of being accused of being a communist and even caused the May 13, 1969 riots.
The naming of a road after Dr. Chen Man Hin is most befitting.
Dr. Chen dreamt the Malaysian Dream and Malaysia can only succeed if all Malaysians dream the Malaysian Dream, not a Malay Dream, a Chinese Dream, an Indian Dream, Kadazan Dream or Dayak Dream.
Justice, freedom, equality and progress must be for all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region, if Malaysia is not slide down the slippery slope to a failed, divided and kleptocratic state.
Dr. Chen fought the fight for all Malaysians for five decades without asking anything in return for himself.
A five-term MP for Seremban, Dr. Chen should be a model for all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region if Malaysia wants to become a world-class great nation.
Malaysia needs more Dr. Chen Man Hins if the country is to achieve its potential and become a world-class great nation.