Kit Siang: Najib not sorry for Red Shirts Rally

DAP to help undo the great damage to race relations caused by the racially-charged Red Shirts Umno Rally.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Umno Government should offer a fulsome apology for their failure of leadership and responsibility in allowing the racially-charged and provocative Red Shirts Umno Rally to be held, said DAP elder statesman Lim Kit Siang. “The Federal Government should initiate a series of remedial measures akin to the National Goodwill Committees after the May 13 riots in 1969.”

“DAP leaders and I are prepared to fully co-operate with the government, all other political parties and NGOs to undo the great damage to race relations caused by the racially-charged Red Shirts Umno Rally in Kuala Lumpur on Malaysia Day,” added Lim who is also DAP Parliamentary Leader and Gelang Patah MP.

Over 1,000 shopkeepers and traders in Petaling Street, representing over 90 per cent of the businesses, closed their business for safety reasons to avoid any untoward incident, noted Lim. “On the eve of Malaysia Day, the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) expressed its opposition to the Red Shirts Umno Rally due to its racial tone.”

“The ACCCIM said that instead of celebrating Malaysia Day in a jovial environment, the Red Shirts Rally provokes racial disharmony which would also undermine economic recovery.”

It appealed to the Prime Minister to take severe action to stop extreme remarks and actions that may harm ethnic relations and harmony as well as obstruct efforts to encourage foreign direct investment and tourism, said Lim.

Najib only made an empty claim when he said in Kota Kinabalu on Wednesday that peace, security and racial harmony of the nation are his top priority, said Lim. “He did nothing to allay the legitimate fears of the businesses and traders in Petaling Street so as to persuade them to continue to open for business on Malaysia Day.”

But even more serious, said Lim, Najib and his Cabinet allowed race relations in Malaysia to reach the worst state in 46 years since the May 13 riots in 1969, allowing the most provocative outbursts of anti-Chinese slurs and insults, with the Chinese being called “babi” (pigs) and told to “balik Cina” (go back to China).

Lim was expressing shock that the Prime Minister and some Ministers are quite pleased and proud over the Red Shirts Umno Rally on Malaysia Day. “They should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves for allowing such a disgraceful blemish in the history of the country’s race relations to take place.”

The outcome was the media attention, locally as well as internationally, about the worsening race relations in Malaysia, as if the country does not have enough world-class scandals of late for the people to be ashamed of, added Lim.

Is the Prime Minister and his Cabinet capable of making amends for their great dereliction of duty in allowing the race baiting and racist provocations to take place on Wednesday, causing race relations in Malaysia to plummet to their worst position since 1969?

Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his Cabinet should apologise to the people for the most shameful abdication of responsibility in allowing Malaysia Day to be desecrated and racial harmony undermined by the racially-charged and provocative Red Shirts Umno Rally in Kuala Lumpur, reiterated Lim.

What is there to be proud about the Red Shirts Umno Rally in Kuala Lumpur when there was everything to be ashamed for a responsible and dedicated Prime Minister and Cabinet who represent the people and not just Prime Minister or Cabinet for a coterie of people in the country? asked Lim.