Lim Kit Siang

Letter from a Malaysian to his PM

By Singa Pura Pura

I am but a lone voice. But a million lone voices make a million votes. You know that now. So I’ll tell you what this loner needs. And I’ll tell you directly. No UMNO, no MCA, no MIC, no Gerakan or any other historical parties. Just you and I my PM.

And it’s not a threat, it’s a fact. Facts are not threats.

I want a few good men of my choice on the Bench. A better A-G. A better IGP. A much better Home Minister. The removal of a few incompetent ministers. And the addition of a few able ministers of my choice. They can be from anywhere, as long as they are answerable in and to Parliament.

I want you to outlaw Perkasa as you have Hindraf. And I would like you to suspend Utusan Malaysia for a quarter of the period your predecessor had suspended The Star – although the latter’s indiscretion was less than one eighth that of the former. Do the math and be fair.

On my part, I reaffirm my full commitment to articles 3(1), 152(1) and 153(1) of the Federal Constitution. By the same token, I would like for you to admit that the non-Malays have never challenged either the ‘special position’ of the Malays or the position of Islam as the religion of the Federation. I would like you to concede, honestly, that the non-Malays have neither the desire nor the political power to do as has been alleged.

And, I would like you to stop the political gollums from both sides of the divide from using ‘Malay’, ‘Islam’ and ‘Christian’ as their rallying points. Let go of the Ring.

Finally, I want you to start living 1Malaysia and cease lip-syncing it. (Milli Vanilli sounded great but only whilst the people did not know better).

I would also like you to reverse any ‘Chinese-first-Malaysian-second’ or ‘Indian-first-Malaysian-second’ or any other like government-policies.

If you want my one vote, do as I say. That much, I know, I am entitled to ask of you.

Or will we leave each other alone like this, on the streets of Putrajaya.

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Federal Constitution
(Act 000)

Article 3 – Religion of the Federation.
(1) Islam is the religion of the Federation; but other religions may be practised in peace and harmony in any part of the Federation.

Article 152 – National Language.
(1) The national language shall be the Malay language and shall be in such script as Parliament may by law provide:
Provided that –
(a) no person shall be prohibited or prevented from using (otherwise than for official purposes), or from teaching or learning, any other language; and
(b) nothing in this Clause shall prejudice the right of the Federal Government or of any State Government to preserve and sustain the use and study of the language of any other community in the Federation.

Article 153 – Reservation of quotas in respect of services, permits, etc, for Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak.
(1) It shall be the responsibility of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong to safeguard the special position of the Malays and natives of any of the States of Sabah and Sarawak and the legitimate interests of other communities in accordance with the provisions of this Article.

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