Kit Siang: I'm emulating Umno's founding father

DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang says he is emulating Umno founding father Onn Jaafar in calling on people of all races to back Pakatan Rakyat in Gelang Patah.

Lim rubbished accusations that his move to Gelang Patah was a bid to sow racial conflict so that Chinese voters would favour DAP.

"In fact, I have called on the Gelang Patah voters to vote as Malaysians, not as Chinese, Malay or Indian voters in pursuit of the Malaysian dream of a united citizenry.

"(This) was articulated by the great Johor Malay leader Datuk Onn Jaafar 61 years ago, when the Umno founder-president proposed that Umno should open it doors to non-Malays and that Umno changes its name to United Malayan National Organisation," Lim said in a statement issued today.

He was responding to former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who has accused Lim of trying to create racial disharmony between the Malays and Chinese in Gelang Patah.

Describing the allegation as "wild, baseless, irresponsible and racist", Lim said Mahathir had never campaigned so aggressively even when he was prime minister as as his legacy was dependent on the coming general election.

"...He must always act as a responsible 'elder statesman' and not succumb to cheap and irresponsible tactics as race-baiting and inciting communal sentiments, which are completely antithetical to his concept of Bangsa Malaysia in Vision 2020," he said.

Lim said while Onn's ideas were ahead of his time, his Malaysian dream remained alive in the hearts and minds of all Malaysians.

"This is an appropriate juncture in the nation-building process to begin to realise the Malaysian dream of a united multi-racial, multi-lingual, multi-cultural and multi-religious Malaysia people...," the DAP national adviser added.