Single multi-racial party the way forward, says political author

 

Lim Teck Ghee (second from left) with his co-author Murray Hunter (left) and their guests at the book launch event yesterday. (Facebook pic)

PETALING JAYA: Political author Lim Teck Ghee says a single multi-racial party could be a game changer to the current state of politics in Malaysia which he claims is deeply-rooted in race and religion.

He claimed that the coalition party system has not worked, and will not work in uniting Malaysians.

“What is needed is not the formation of new political hybrids and hydras based on racial or religious membership and interest and in which national interest has become secondary.

“What is required instead is a new approach with component parties (in a coalition) dissolving themselves and setting up a new single multi-racial party,” he said during a book launch yesterday.

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Lim said for a single multi-racial party to exist, two ingredients were needed.

Firstly, party leaders who reject ethno-religious politics and are committed to disrupt divisive institutional frameworks, and secondly, public pressure.

“This single multi-racial party has been the missing phase of development in Malaysian politics. The next general election (GE15) and its aftermath could provide the opening to correct it,” he said.

Yesterday, Lim and Murray Hunter launched two books that they co-authored – “Dark Forces Changing Malaysia” and “Malaysia Towards GE15 and Beyond”.

The launch event was attended by DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, Parti Sosialis Malaysia chairman Dr Michael Jeyakumar Devaraj, lawyer-activist Siti Kasim, former Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan, former attorney-general Tommy Thomas, and Gerak Independent co-founder Tawfik Ismail. - FMT