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Let All Malaysian Members Of Parliament Support The DAP Motion To Accept The Appeals By Over 2,000 Chinese Associations. Abstract of the speech by Dr Tan Seng Giaw, DAP National Vice-Chairman and MP for Kepong at the seminar on the 17 appeals by registered Chinese associations on 27 September 1999. | |||||||
| On 16 August 1999, over 2,000 associations of Chinese Malaysians submitted 17 major appeals to the National Front, Barisan Nasional, Government. These Appeals are on major issues such as national unity, education, integration policy, parliamentary democracy, human rights and the aborigines. As these come on the eve of the 10th general elections, the Prime Minister, Dato' Seri Dr Mahahthir Mohamad, and his deputy have said that the presentation of these Appeals is an attempt to hold the Government to ransom. They have then relented, appointing a committee comprising of Malaysian Chinese Association, MCA, Gerakan and Sarawak United People's Party, SUPP. On 23 September 1999, the committee met representatives from Chinese associations. MCA President, Dato' Seri Dr Ling Leong Sik, who headed the committee (the other members being Dato' Lim Keng yaik, Geerakan President and Datuk Lau Heing Ding of the SUPP), said that they had agreed with the Appeals. We hope that the committee will play its part in the Cabinet to find solutions to the problems raised. The Cabinet has acted quickly because the Barisan Nasional believes that the Chinese Malaysian votes are crucial in the coming general elections. In fact, these Appeals deal broadly with major issues which have remained unresolved since Merdeka (Independence) in the past 42 years. Since its inception, the Democratice Action party, DAP, has voiced them for 33 | |
years. On 24 September 1999, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the King, urged all Malaysians to accept parliamentary democracy during his installation ceremony.. This is necessary because we do not want any form of dictatorship. A practice in parliamentary democracy is to let people voice their views or appeals and to accept the rights of dissent. DAP has been analysing Government policies, pointing out the mistakes and putting forward alternatives. Similarly, varous associations have been passing resolutions on these issues for years. But, the mass media have not been able to play its part fully; they often leave these out because of governmental constraints. For example, after the massive electoral victory by the Barisan Nasional in 1982, the 1983 Royal Address contained the 'One Language, One Culture' policy. DAP opposed it. Then, in the early 90s, Dr Mahathir admitted that assimilation was wrong and integration was more suitable for the country. The budget session of the 9th parliament will start on 18 October 1999. The DAP has submitted a motion for the House to consider the various major appeals by different races including Chinese Malaysians and to accept the 17 Appeals by the over 2,000 associations. The Cabinet has set up a committee to meet representatives from the associations. The committee has accepted the Appeals. Then, there should be no obstacles for all MPs to support the motion.
Dr Tan Seng Giaw | |||||
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