Speech by Lim Kit Siang at the opening of the
DAP Tebing Tinggi service centre, Ipoh on Saturday, 28th June
2008:
Tsu Koon proving Keng Yaik right about the "beggar politics" of Gerakan
vis-à-vis UMNO in Barisan Nasional in his response to the RM3.5 billion
Ninth Malaysia Plan Mid-Term Review deferring of PORR and Monorail
projects in Penang
One result of the March 8 "political tsunami" which saw the end of the
Barisan Nasional's unbroken two-thirds parliamentary majority and its
loss of five state governments, Penang, Perak, Selangor, Kedah and
Kelantan, is a bout of public soul searching by some Barisan Nasional
leaders.
One such public heart-baring was by the Gerakan Adviser Datuk Seri Lim
Keng Yaik who confessed that as Umno did not give the other component
parties equal standing, Gerakan, MCA and MIC were reduced to the status
of "beggars" in the ruling coalition – resulting in their massive
rejection by the electorate in the March 8 "political tsunami".
Gerakan Acting President Tan Sri Dr. Koh Tsu Koon has proven his
predecessor right about the "beggar politics" and "beggar mentality" of
Gerakan vis-à-vis Umno in Barisan Nasional in his response to the RM3.5
billion Ninth Malaysia Plan Mid-Term Review deferring of the PORR and
Monorail projects in Penang.
Tsu Koon should demand a rightful say as an equal partner in the ruling
coalition on major decisions particularly those affecting Penang, such
as the two "signature" Ninth Malaysia Plan projects of the Barisan
Nasional for Penang instead of concocting excuses to justify the
deferral of the two projects, like blaming the Penang people for voting
in a new state government in the March general election or criticizing
the DAP Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng for sending allegedly
"confusing signals" to the Federal Government.
If Yong Teck Lee of SAPP is prepared to forsake "beggar politics" in
Barisan Nasional and could stand up for the legitimate rights and
interests of the people of Sabah to the extent of facing disciplinary
action by the Barisan Nasional Supreme Council, why is Tsu Koon not
prepared to do more to defend the legitimate rights and interests of the
people of Penang and send a clear and unmistakable message to Umno that
the March 8 "political tsunami" must mean an end to "beggar politics" in
Barisan Nasional if Gerakan and all other component parties in BN are to
survive and remain relevant to the needs and aspirations of Malaysians?
*
Lim
Kit Siang, DAP
Parliamentary leader & MP for Ipoh Timor
http://dapmalaysia.org