2012 is a critical year: Prepare for GE-13, calls Kit Siang

2012 is the year to make Malaysians proud of being a Malaysian, check racial and religious polarization, motivate Malaysians to achieve greatness and save the country from corruption, abuses of power and socio-economic injustices

As if further reminders are needed, the closing month of the year have provided further proofs that the country has never been so polarised both on grounds of race and religion in the nation’s 54-year history than in the 32 months of Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s premiership, viz:

· The irresponsible incitement and exploitation of the 3R cards of race, religion and Malay Rulers at the UMNO General Assembly;

· The Prime Minister’s pandering to the 3R rhetorics at the ensuing Perkida general assembly;

· The extremist reaction to a moderate and reasoned appeal for a fair and even-handed interpretation of Article 153 made by the chairperson of National Evangelical Christian Fellowship (NECF) Reverend Eu Hong Seng at a Christmas hi-tea on Christmas eve; and

· The unjustified response by Deputy Prime Minister, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin to Reverend Eu’s speech at the national Christmas open house in Kajang on Dec. 26, warning against attempts to undermine the country’s unity “which the BN government has painstakingly built”.

Why has racial and religious polarisation in Malaysia worsened in the 32 months of Najib’s premiership when Najib had launched from April 2009 his signature policy and slogan of “1Malaysia. People First. Performance Now”, focussing on the core concepts of social cohension, unity in diversity and inclusiveness, social justice, excellence and integrity?

There can be no doubt whatsoever that if an independent and dispassionate study is made as to who must be held responsible for the worsening racial and religious polarisation in the past 32 months with their incessant incitement of race rhetoric and religious tensions, undermining the Prime Minister’s signature 1Malaysia policy, the culprits were the UMNO leaders themselves, UMNO mouthpieces and their proxy organisations.

This is a triumph of Muhyiddin over Najib, as the DPM had expressed his reservations about the 1Malaysia policy right from the outset, when he refused to endorse the 1Malaysia policy of being “Malaysian first” by declaring he is Malay first and Malaysian second!

UMNO and Barisan Nasional are incapable of effecting national and institutional changes to prepare Malaysia to face the challenges of globalisation and international competitiveness.

Only the Malaysian people themselves can make these changes possible.

2012 is the year to make Malaysians proud of being a Malaysian, check racial and religious polarization, motivate Malaysians to achieve greatness and save the country from corruption, abuses of power and socio-economic injustices.

Prepare for the 13th General Elections.

Happy New Year 2012

Lim Kit Siang is the DAP adviser and MP for Ipoh Timur