Kit Siang: I rejected MCA's minister offer to preserve DAP’s multi-racial stance

DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang recalled that he had no hesitation in turning down a ministerial offer from MCA because he did not want to turn his back on the multi-racial platform.

“I remember that although the thought of becoming a minister at the age of 30 was tempting, I had no hesitation in rejecting the proposal from the then MCA president, Tan Siew Sin, for DAP’s dissolution and to join MCA for Chinese unity as we are not just Malays, Chinese, Indians, Ibans or Kadazans. We are first and foremost Malaysians,” he said.

He cited his own track record as a three-term MP for Bandar (and then Kota) Melaka from 1969-1986, and also the case of his son, Lim Guan Eng, who took over the Kota Melaka constituency after the 1986 general election.

Kit Siang, who is now Iskandar Puteri MP, claimed his son was the first Malaysian MP to ever go to jail and sacrifice his MP position for championing the cause of a Malaysian involving another race.

“He continued the DAP battle for all Malaysians, and went to jail and was disqualified as a member of Parliament for fighting for an underaged Malay girl – for DAP is committed to the wellbeing and welfare of all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region,” he said.

Despite being a multi-racial party, a substantial majority of DAP’s leadership is from the Chinese community. Notably only one of the party’s 42 MPs is a Malay - Raub’s Tengku Zulpuri Shah Raja Puji.

Reflecting on its time in the federal government, Kit Siang said that the Pakatan Harapan coalition had made mistakes during its 22 months of federal administration and the upcoming Malacca state election will be an opportunity to review them.

Speaking at the launch of DAP’s Malacca election machinery yesterday, Kit Siang said the party’s stance to champion all Malaysians regardless of race and religion must be the core of the battle in the poll.

“DAP Malacca workers in the state election must always work not for Malacca alone, but for a better Malaysia,” he said.

Kit Siang noted that the federal Harapan administration was toppled in the Sheraton Move before it could gain enough momentum to initiate reforms, adding leaders and workers in the coalition must remain humble and modest in the election campaign to restore confidence and hope for the country.

Malaccans will go to the polls on Nov 20, after the state assembly was dissolved earlier this month.

DAP currently holds seven seats in the Malacca State Legislative Assembly, one seat fewer than what it won in the previous election after Pengkalan Batu assemblyperson Norhizam Hassan Baktee jumped ship, causing the collapse of the state Harapan administration.

Ironically, Norhizam is also the main reason behind the fall of the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government he joined, as he withdrew his support alongside three other assemblypersons earlier this month, culminating in the dissolution of the state assembly. - Mkini