The Lims in China are not very well known. The one Lim who have appeared in Chinese history is the Opium War stalwart Lin Zexu whose forceful opposition to the opium trade was a primary catalyst for the First Opium War in China from 1839-42.
But among 50 million Chinese all over the world in the Chinese Diaspora, who have made the other countries in the world outside China their home, like Thailand and Malaysia, the Lims seem to have left bigger footprints.
For instance, one of the Prime Minister-designates of Thailand, Pita Limjaroenrat, the leader of the Move Forward Party, is a Lim.
Although we are ethnic Chinese, we are 100 per cent nationals of our respective countries.
There are many false narratives in Malaysia today based on lies, falsehoods, fake news, and hate speech.
Some of these false narratives include the following – that I am a communist. In actual fact, the communists wanted me to lose in the 1969 general elections, but I was elected the MP for Bandar Melaka despite the 1969 election boycott campaign of the communists.
I was accused of causing the May 13, 1969 racial riots, but I was never in Kuala Lumpur when the riots broke out, as I had gone to Kota Kinabalu on the morning of May 13, 1969 to help in the election campaign of the independent candidates in Sabah.
There is the false narrative that the Chinese are anti-Islam, but there are more Muslims in China than in Malaysia.
There is the false narrative that China is anti-Islam, but the Belt and Road Initiative is one of the most important global initiatives of this era, with more than 145 countries joining the BRI initiative.
In fact, China’s President Xi Jinping played a historic role in the restoration of Saudi Arabia-Iran diplomatic relations and two days ago, Xi said China is willing to play a positive role to help the Palestinians achieve internal reconciliation and promote peace talks with Israel.
Some of the false narratives in Malaysia are that Malaysian Muslims must choose to become cow herders or pig herders.
Muslims or non-Muslims, do not want to be cow herders or pig herders but want to be world champions again and to be a role model to the world of inter-ethnic, inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilisational dialogue, understanding, tolerance and harmony.
Or in the words of Bapa Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman, to be “a beacon of light in a difficult and distracted world”.
Is the vision for Malaysians to be world champions again and to be a role model for inter-ethnic, inter-religious, jnter-cultural and inter-civilisation dialogue, understanding, tolerance and harmony, or in Tunku’s words, to be “a beacon of light in a difficult and distracted world” beyond the capacity and intellectual capabilities of the present generation?
I do not think so.
I believe all Malaysians – that includes all organisations like the Lim Clans Associations – should do all they can for Malaysia to achieve the vision to be world champions again and be a role model of the world in inter-ethnic, inter-religious, jnter-cultural and inter-civilisation dialogue, understanding, tolerance and harmony.
Since we achieved nationhood, many Malaysians have flocked to other countries to make them great and to make one country transform from a developing country into a first-world country in two generations.
These Malaysians should remain in Malaysia to make Malaysia great.
This is why the Yang di Pertuan Agong had advised all Malaysians to maintain political stability and restore national unity for Malaysians to be world champions again and to be a role model to the world of inter-ethnic, inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilisation dialogue, understanding, tolerance, and harmony.
We owe it to the Malaysian nation to make Malaysia world champions again and a role model of the world in inter-ethnic, inter-religious, inter-cultural and inter-civilisation dialogue, understanding, tolerance, and harmony.
But we must reunite all Malaysians, regardless of clan, race, religion or region to build Malaysia’s future greatness.