DAP welcomes the Cabinet’s positive response to the “Love and Save Malaysia” overture by the Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council for a Barisan Nasional/Pakatan Rakyat Leaders’ Summit to promote national unity and scuttle plans by a small group of traitors out to destabilize Malaysia by creating another May 13.
The Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council had repeatedly made this patriotic call – as reflected in all the three Open Letters I addressed to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on Jan. 8, 22 and 29 where the idea of a Barisan Nasional/Pakatan Rakyat Leaders” Summit “to love and save Malaysia” is the consistent theme.
As I ended in my third Open Letter to the Prime Minister and the Cabinet yesterday, I urged the Prime Minister and the Cabinet to reciprocate the act of patriotism of the Pakatan Rakyat leadership – to jointly endeavor and ensure there is continued harmony, goodwill and tolerance in Malaysia leaving the spectre of May 13 to the cobwebs of history.
The Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat parties and leaders have major differences about the political road that should be taken by Malaysia after more than half a century of nationhood, and these differences have to fought out in the democratic clash of ideas to be finally decided by the Malaysian electorate in the ballot box.
But one thing the BN and PR cannot disagree if both are patriotic movements, that is on the need to unite to save Malaysia from the machinations of a small group of irresponsible and reckless people who are no different from traitors who seek to destabilise the country to cause another May 13 by incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension in the country.
I fully agree with Najib who said in his statement yesterday that for the “reconciliation plan” to work, all must be committed to “avoid spreading lies and slander , finally put to rest the politics of hate”.
DAP and PR leaders have often been the victim of the politics of lies, slander and hate, and it is beholden on all political leaders whether BN or PR to set the example to clean up Malaysian politics of lies, slander and hatred which has become so commonplace especially in the past eight months.
As I have said, if the Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Rakyat are united in their resolve that there would not be another May 13, and would do their utmost against those who seek to incessantly incite racial and religious hatred, conflict and tensions based on lies and falsehoods, there is no way there could be another May 13 in Malaysia.
Najib said yesterday that the reconciliation plans do not include the formation of any sort of unity government.
This clarification is most appropriate as such a notion of a “unity government” has never entered the minds of any Pakatan Rakyat leader when we repeatedly made the proposal for a BN/PR Leader’ Summit to address the worsening national crises in the country.
Najib said the Cabinet yesterday examined a plan to develop and promote an environment that is conducive and will promote national reconciliation through unity and consensus in the country, based on four key thrusts, namely social, political, government and international relations.
As the BN Cabinet has responded positively to the proposal for a BN/PR Leaders’ Summit, a joint secretariat should be formed to work out details of the Summit.
This can include the government’s national reconciliation plan which will be discussed by Pakatan Rakyat Leadership Council once we have received details of the plan.
I am sure all Malaysians will feel relieved if there is a genuine effort by BN and PR leaders to establish a national consensus for unity by isolating and preventing the treacherous elements in the country who are seeking to destabilise the country through incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tension based on lies and falsehoods from carrying out their treacherous plot and design.