Lim Kit Siang

DAP calls for a nation-wide “Love Malaysia, Save Malaysia” campaign to rescue the country from the nefarious and treacherous designs of a small group of anti-Malaysian elements out to foment racial and religious strife through incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tensions

The pattern is emerging from the events from the past few months that there is a small group of anti-Malaysia elements whose nefarious and treacherous designs are to foment racial and religious strife through incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tensions.

I categorise in this group of anti-Malaysia elements with nefarious and treacherous designs those responsible for the recent Molotov cocktail attack on a church in Penang, the hanging of provocative banner “Allah is Great. Jesus in the son of Allah” outside five churches in Penang without the knowledge of the church authorities and the vandalism of eight gravestones in a Christian cemetery near Kuantan.

Recently, DAP National Vice Chairperson and MP for Seputeh Teresa Kok’s “Onederful Malaysia CNY 2014” was the subject of a national frenzy that it was anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Rulers, causing a group of self-styled “Islamic NGOs” to hold a “chicken-slaughtering and blood-smearing” demonstration, including offering RM1,200 to anyone who slaps Teresa Kok – although nobody could substantiate the allegation that the video was anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Rulers in the past three weeks.

Truth becomes a victim of such a nefarious and treacherous plot for the perpetrators are not interested in facts, truth, honesty, tolerance and moderation but only in inciting racial and religious hatred to create a feverish atmosphere to force people to surrender reason and to succumb to the basest of emotions and irrationality.

DAP calls for a nation-wide “Love Malaysia, Save Malaysia” campaign to rescue the country from the nefarious and treacherous designs of a small group of anti-Malaysian elements out to foment racial and religious strife through incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflict and tensions.

I have no doubt that the overwhelming majority of Malaysians, whether in DAP, PKR or PAS in Pakatan Rakyat or in UMNO, MCA, Gerakan, MIC and other component parties in Barisan Nasional do not want racial and religious strife in the country, as they are moderates and patriots who want the best for the country, their children and children’s children.

But they must not keep quiet and allow a small group irresponsible and reckless people out to create racial and religious strife through incessant incitement of racial and religious hatred, conflicts and tensions a field day to create chaos and destroy our beloved Malaysia.

The moderates and patriots must speak up loud and clear to dissociate themselves and condemn the irresponsible and treacherous activities of these anti-Malaysia elements who want to create another May 13 by raising the spectre of May 13 riots, racial chaos and religious conflagration.

They must save Malaysia to ensure that Malaysian citizens and future generations can continue to enjoy multi-racial and multi-religious peace, harmony and solidarity.

How many people, for instance, really supported the irresponsible and reckless demonstration of the self-styled Islamic NGOs who offered RM1,200 to anyone who slaps Teresa Kok and slaughtered four chickens to smear their blood on the photographs of DAP and Pakatan Rakyat leaders – alleging that Teresa Kok’s video was anti-Malay, anti-Islam and anti-Rulers without an iota of evidence?

Are the majority of Malays and Muslims behind the action of these self-styled “Islamic NGOs”.

I do not believe so. But the silence of the moderate and patriotic Malays and Muslims allow the irresponsible and reckless elements behind the “cash for slap” and “chicken-slaughtering and blood-smearing” demonstration to pretend that their nefarious and anti-Malaysia actions had the support of overwhelming majority of Malays and Muslims.

This is why moderate and patriotic Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, must unite to “Love Malaysia, Save Malaysia” from extremist and unpatriotic elements who want to destroy inter-racial and inter-religious harmony and peace in Malaysia in order to serve their petty political ends.

(Media Conference Statement in Batu Pahat on Sunday, 16th February 2014 at 11 am)