2015 Thaipusam Message By DAP Secretary-General And MP For Bagan Lim Guan Eng In Kuala Lumpur On 2.2.2015.
To promote their standing in society and protect their economic rights, the Indian community must work with other Malaysians through the principles of democratic rights, rule of law and uphold integrity against corruption. Only when the minority work with the majority groups through fundamental principles enshrined in our Federal Constitution, can the basic human rights, political and civil liberties as well as the economic interests of all communities be protected.
Unfortunately, racists and religious extremists have now gained prominence by questioning the rights and freedoms of minorities. That is why celebrating Thaipusam is so important as an endorsement of moderation and rejection of the dangerous ideas represented by these racists and religious extremists. Further celebrating Thaipusam also demonstrates that all Malaysians, Muslim and non-Muslim, Malay and non-Malay support the fundamental right of freedom of religion.
Democratic rights and rule of law is an integral part of our Federal Constitution and Malaysian way of life. Even local government elections was once part of the democratic process in the first 8 years of our nation’s history before it was banned in 1965.It is sad and regrettable that there are still top political leaders who are so ignorant of history, logic, reason and wisdom that they oppose local government elections by equating it as undemocratic, fails to guarantee justice and also so racist that it can lead to a repeat of the 1969 May 13 racial riots.
Malaysia is one of the few countries in the world that does not permit local government elections. Malaysia is also one of the few countries in the world that fails to address corruption and punish those who lived beyond their means. This is highlighted by the RM1.4 trillion in illicit funds flowing out of the country from 2003-2013 or a loss of RM50,000 for every Malaysian.
Malaysians have paid a heavy price for this failure to uphold integrity in leadership as shown by Malaysia household indebtedness (87.1% of gross domestic product as at September 2014), as the highest in Asia by the World Bank’s estimates, having ballooned to RM854.3 billion (86.8% of GDP) in 2013 versus RM243.2 billion (67.2% of GDP) in 2002.
Only when we look stop looking at our problems and solutions through the prism of race or religion, but through the prism of principles and policies, can we be part of the solution and not part of the problem.
LIM GUAN ENG
—- Mandarin Version —-
民主行动党秘书长兼峇眼区国会议员林冠英于2015年2月2日在吉隆坡发表声明：
为了促进本身的社会地位及保护本身的经济权益，印度社群必须立命于民主权益、法治及清廉肃贪的基本原则，与其他马来西亚人合作，
为了促进本身的社会地位及保护本身的经济权益，印度社群必须立命于民主权益、法治及清廉肃贪的基本原则，与其他马来西亚人合作，只有在少数人与多数人通过联邦宪法赋予的基本原则，所有社群的人权、政治权利及公民自由、经济利益才能获得保障。
不幸地是，种族及宗教极端分子太过得意洋洋，他们质疑少数社群的权利和自由。这就是为什么大宝森节如此重要，它象征中庸，也代表拒绝种族及宗教极端分子的危险念头。庆祝大宝森节也彰显着全体马来西亚人、穆斯林及非穆斯林、马来人及非马来人都以持宗教自由的基本权益。
民主权利及法治精神是联邦宪法的基本组成部分， 也是马来西亚人民的生活。就连地方政府选举曾经也是我国独立时首八年民主过程的一部分， 它在1965年才被禁止。令人伤心及遗憾的是，我国政治高层中，还有一些领袖对历史、逻辑、理由及智慧如此无知，以致他们竟然反对地方政府选举，还将它与不民主、无法确保公义、种族主义、1969年513事件划上等号。
马来西亚是全世界少数几个国家不允许地方政府选举。我们也是全世界少数几个国家无法针对生活奢华的高官进行惩恶肃贪的国家。我国在2003-2013年之间，有高达1.4兆令吉的非法资金外流可以看出，平均来说就是每个国民损失5万令吉。
我们也因为无法捍卫领导廉正而付出惨痛的代价。马来西亚每个家庭的负债据世界银行统计是亚洲最高（截至2014年9月占国内生产总值的87.1%），比2013年的8543亿令吉（国内生产总值的86.8%）及2002年的2432亿令吉（国内生产总值的67.2%）还高。
只有当我们停止在种族及宗教的眼界里自己的问题及寻找答案，而是通过原则及政策的角度，我们才能够成为解决方案，而不是问题的一部分。
林冠英