Razaleigh’s wishes to Lim Kit Siang

I am sending some interesting articles over to Free Malaysia Today. They cover some thoughts on my recent meeting with The Oracle of Syed Putera. Readers who are interested may keep a lookout for the articles. Yes, I am hoping to be a regular contributor to FMT.

At the moment though I want to comment on Tengku Razaleigh's felicitations and birthday wishes to the old warhorse of Malaysian politics- Lim Kit Siang. I don't know Lim Kit Siang personally but certainly know of him. When I was a student at UM in the late 70's, The Rocket was a reading favorite alongsideMimbar Sosialis. The DAP's headquarters at that time was at Paramount Gardens in Section 20 PJ.

Needless to say I felt singularly honored when Lim Kit Siang sometimes uploaded my articles onto his own blog.

Kit Siang's first book that I read circa 1977 or 78 was Time Bombs in Malaysia. After that I read several of his other books and there were so many of them. When I was working with an oil Multinational, Kit Siang amazed everybody when he devoured the entire report of the BMF affair and debated the issue in Parliament. Barisan MPs were mostly caught napping I thought. Most probably many of them were on page 3 still with many wishing the page 3 they were reading was the UK Sun newspaper.

What can we make of Razaleigh's felicitous wishes to Kit Siang? Kit Siang is probably 2 years younger that Ku Li and has been around, in fact a pillar in Parliament for as long as anyone can remember. He is undeniably part of the Malaysian Parliament. Which is why, the dearth of salutations from brother MPs to this more or less permanent fixture in Parliament is baffling. In Malaysia, political differences easily translate into deep-seated hostilities.

That is why; Razaleigh's readiness to openly convey best wishes to Lim Kit Siang is refreshingly uplifting. It shows people can set aside political differences and embrace each other in a brotherly manner. And I hope this will open a new page in Malaysian political book where people with seemingly different political ideologies and inclinations can unite for the cause of a greater good.

There is no cause for the greater good at the moment more deserving to be taken up other than a fervent wish of a Malaysia founded on the rule of law, Malaysia that is run on democratic principles, Malaysia that is managed properly.

But can people read in between the lines on what Ku Li has said? I re quote some of the passages and perhaps we can gloss over it.

You have consistently upheld and stood your ground on matters relating to the fundamental rights of all the rakyat, irrespective of race, to free and responsible speech, the rights to enjoy a just and fair distribution of the economic and social wealth of the nation, and to political, judicial and legal justice. You have consistently and courageously spoken up against the corruption and the various misdeeds and defaults of the government and demanded actions, both in Parliament as well as outside it, despite the possible reprisals, the threats and even possible punitive actions that might be taken against you, which in fact you have suffered in the past.

The elements of the greater good must include championing the fundamental rights of the rakyat, pushing for democracy and striving for economic justice. The cause for the greater good entails, by necessity, speaking out against the excesses of the government- any government of the day for that matter and condemning corruption as the heinous scourge that it is.

Why is it important to remain steadfast in fighting for these things? Because as Tengku Razaleigh rightly points out:-

By sticking to these: -

In the end, it seems to me you are the winner because, despite what your opponents say about you, as long as you know and believe what you stand for is good for the people and the country, you are on the right path.

This should a clarion call to all fair minded Malaysians of all races.Of course by the way, i join the many others in wishing Lim Kit Siang a happy birthday.