Since Merdeka, two million Malaysians have migrated
overseas because they do not see a future for themselves and for Malaysia . It
is time that we don't live in our past that is filled with hatred and fear. We
should look to the future filled with hope and harmony between all Malaysians.
To put the past behind us, we must stop the politics of
race and religion.
To put the past behind us, we must end corruption.
To put the past behind us, we must abolish the
suppression, oppression, repression of our basic human rights and freedoms.
To put the past behind us, we must demand good governance
and performance from our ministers.
To attain peace Malaysians must stand united and reject
those who wish to divide us by preaching racial and religious hatred. If we
want to benefit from equal opportunities and realize our human potential we
must stop extremists from continually degrading others as inferiors so as to
uplift ourselves. Why should Allah not be allowed to be used in the Bible when
it is used in the Middle East ?
We can only achieve harmony together. Despite our
differences and diversity, Malaysians can make our common aspirations of
freedom, justice, democracy and truth come true if we remember key values.
That it is not who we are that is important, but what we
are that is important; not the colour of our skin that is important but
the content of our character; and not our past ancestry that is important but
how we connect with the present and with each other to face the future.
We can only be prosperous together. The time has come to
focus on the economy, in employment, education and business opportunities as
the conditions for prosperity. We must build human talent and be
performance-based.
For those who say that PR do not know how to govern, the
4 PR states of Penang, Selangor, Kedah and Kelantan have proven our ability by
beating the other 10 BN states by attracting RM25 billion in investments
comprising 53% of Malaysia 's total investments of RM47.2 billion in 2010. For
the first time in history, Penang is now the new champion of investments in
Malaysia , coming out top in 2010 with RM 12.2 billion.
To put the past behind us, we must end corruption.
Barisan Nasional cannot reform to end corruption. Remember, if we do not end
corruption, Malaysia dies. If we end corruption, BN dies. The choice is clear.
To put the past behind us, we must abolish the
suppression, oppression, repression of our basic human rights and freedom. How
can we have a clean government when we do not have clean elections?
We do not want our children to live in fear of oppressive
laws as we have lived. A Pakatan Rakyat government will abolish the UUCA, the
Sedition Act and the Printing Presses and Publications Act and restore local
government elections.
When can we find justice for Teoh Beng Hock, Ahmad
Sarbani and A Kugan? When will we have Freedom of Information & Freedom of
Speech? When can we have justice that is not only done, but is seen to be done.
To put the past behind us, we demand good governance and
performance from our ministers. Malaysia can be an international and
intelligent country. We must have digital intelligence with broadband
connectivity. We must also have integrity intelligence, so ensure that only
honest people are the decision-makers. We must have institutional intelligence
under the rule of law. We demand good governance and performance from our
ministers.
Has the Transport Ministry done its duty to run our
airports and seaports well?
Look at the Penang International Airport whose completion
has been delayed more than 3 times. And the Penang Port is to be reduced to be
a feeder port and privatized to a 3rd party at the expense of Penangites. Why
is there no consultation with the people of Penang to restore the port to its
former glory? Instead of looking after airports and ports, the Transport
Ministry is more interested in vehicle registration numbers and wants to
increase the maximum traffic fines to RM2,000.
Director-General of Tourism is wrongly charged of
corruption but the Tourism Minister finds nothing wrong with spending RM1.8
million in doing up her Facebook page, when we all know that it can be done for
free.
The Health Ministry wants to privatise healthcare when it
should be a public good given as an affordable right to all Malaysians. Why
allow the wastage of public funds and affect the quality and affordability of
drugs when drugs are bought through a middleman at higher prices when it could
be boughtcheaper direct from the manufacturers, some of which are operating in
Malaysia .
The Housing and Local Government Ministry opposes local
government elections in Penang , denying our fundamental democratic right
to elect our councillors and our mayors.
We believe that Malaysians deserve better. For the last
50 years, the wealth of the nation has been robbed. Let us protect the future
of our children by ensuring we have a people-centric government that protects
you instead of harming you, that rewards you instead of stealing from you, that
respects you instead of abusing your rights. Let us clean up Malaysia to save
our children's future.
We must put the past behind us where profits matters more
than our health.
Lynas concerns all of us because if Lynas is allowed to
operate, Barisan Nasional will proceed with building two nuclear reactors. If
we continue to put health above profits, what is the use of having all the
money in the world if you cannot enjoy it healthily?
The next elections shall be fought on the economy. We
refuse to allow BN to use race as the issue in the next elections. We need to
increase the incomes of our poor or else they will fall victims to the Ah
Longs. For example,
Bank Negara's Annual Report 2010 revealed that Malaysia
's household debt at the end of 2010 was RM581 billion or 76 per cent of GDP,
thus giving us the dubious honour of having the second-highest level of
household debt in Asia .
In addition, the Malaysian household debt service ratio
stood at 47.8 per cent in 2010, meaning that nearly half of the average
family's income goes to repaying debts. As a rule, banks would not lend money
to those whose total servicing of loans exceeded one third of their income. In
other words, we are spiralling into an indebted nation.
According to the New Economic Model documents, the bottom
40% of Malaysian households are living with a monthly average income of RM1,500
(and three-quarters of them are bumiputera) while 60% of the households (of
four persons averagely) live with a less than RM3,000 income, which is near
subsistence if one lives in the cities.
These are families living in fear. We will help them live
with dignity and not in fear, by increasing their incomes and cutting down
their costs, with a minimum wage, getting rid of monopolies, expanding internet
connectivity and encouraging creativity, innovation and productivity.
South Korea is a very good example of a nation that chose
democracy, performance and freedom of opportunity to become a developed
country. With a population of 48 million, its GDP per capita of USD20,000
is more than double Malaysia's. But in 1970, South Korea 's per capita GDP was
only USD260 compared to Malaysia 's USD380. We used to regularly beat South
Korea at football. And now our children are fans of K-pop culture and their
football team are regulars at the World Cup.
Only when we free ourselves of fear of change, can we be
free to prosper. BN cannot change. They need to be changed, for BN wants to
rule by fear.
Thomas Jefferson said "When the governments fear the
people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is
tyranny".
The choice is yours, my friends. I urge you - Let us
change so we can have liberty and live with dignity.
*Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary General & MP for Bagan
