DAP Chinese New Year Message By DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng In Kuala Lumpur On 11.2.2013.
The Year of the Snake will be a challenging year as it will also be a general election year that will determine not only the course of our children’s future but also the nation’s destiny. However this gives Malaysians the rare opportunity to signal clearly that respect for diversity, public integrity and rule of law is not the problem but the solution towards realising Malaysia’s aspirations of a peaceful and prosperous developed nation.
As Malaysians embrace the K-pop culture and national leaders indulge their love for PSY, we must remember that South Korea’s success is tied to these values and solution. For this reason, Malaysians must make their choice based on which party maintains consistent principles, offer people-centric policies and is competent in delivering performance.
No longer shall Malaysians submit, but will stand up to condemn the use of racist and derogatory remarks by UMNO leaders towards minority communities. The habitual racist remarks by UMNO leaders are individually repulsive but what is most deplorable, when these attitudes are held by those in government.
DAP believes that Malaysians will reject former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s call that BN be returned with a 2/3 majority so that the Federal Constitution can be amended to strip off the citizenship of dissenting Malaysian lawyers such as Bersih co-Chair Datuk S. Ambiga. Previously UMNO MPs had asked for Datuk Ambiga to be hanged for organizing the Bersih rallies.
When the UMNO-backed Perkasa made the incendiary call to burn the Bible, Muslim and Malays stood up together with non-Muslims to condemn such irresponsible acts. Some Muslims even publicly read passages from the Bible to show their solidarity and respect for other faiths.
The challenges for the Chinese community are inextricably intertwined with those faced by all Malaysians. The problems of Chinese education whether lack of funding or non-recognition of Unified Examination Certificates, lack of equal opportunities and erosion of political rights must be resolved together with those faced by other communities. Our goals of a fairer, freer, cleaner, safer and prosperous society can not be advanced if another community suffers and injustice.
Just as we must not ignore but accept our differences, we must also not dismiss but respect our diversity. Regardless of what gods we pray, we are all created differently. It is these differences that we are one – one human race.
Similarly Malaysia achieved Merdeka with full recognition of our differences and diversity. It is the recognition and acceptance of these differences by Tunku Abdul Rahman that makes Malaysia one nation. Let us reaffirm our commitment towards a Merdeka united by common values of justice, democracy and freedom regardless of race, religion and background.
—-Mandarin Version —
民主行动党秘书长林冠英于2013年2月11日在吉隆坡发表农历新年贺词：
尊重多元、公共廉正及法治不是问题，而是让马来西亚成为和平繁荣进步国家的途径。
蛇年将是举挑战性的一年，这是大选年，不只将决定我们孩子的未来，也将决定国家的未来。但是，这也是马来西亚罕有的机会，可以清楚地显示尊重多元、公共廉正及法治不是问题，而是让马来西亚成为和平繁荣进步国家的途径。
正当马来西亚人追棒“韩流”而国家领袖也欣赏PSY，我们必须要紧记韩国会成功，正是因为上述价值观及方法。因此，马来西亚人必须基于哪一个政党坚持原则、提供以民为本的政策、有能力表现政绩而做出选择。
马来西亚人再也不会屈从，我们将会站出来谴责巫统领袖对少数社群所发表的种族性及煽动性言论。虽然巫统领袖一贯地使用种族性言论使人反感，但更可悲的是，他们也在政府内采取同样的态度。
行动党相信马来西亚人将拒绝前首相敦马哈迪医生的号召，让国阵重新掌控三分之二国会议席，以修改联邦宪法，褫夺持异见的律师的公民权，如：净选盟联合主席拿督安美嘉。之前，巫统国会议员也要求当局将拿督安美嘉问吊，因为她组织净选盟大集会。
当由巫统撑腰的主权组织煽动焚烧圣经，穆斯林及马来人一起站出来，与非穆斯林一起谴责这种不负责任的行为，一些穆斯林甚至当众朗读圣经的经文，以显示他们对其它宗教信仰的尊重及同心同德。
华社所面对的挑战也与全体马来西亚所面对的问题息息相关。华教的问题，不论是缺乏拨款或是独中统考文凭不受承认、缺乏平等机会及政治权利遭侵蚀，必须与其它社群所面对的问题一起解决。如果任何一个社群在受苦受难、面对不公义，我们所要求的更平等、更自由、更干净、更安全、更昌盛的社会将不会前进。
对于差异，我们不能忽略而是接受；对于多元，我们不能拒绝而是尊重。不论我们信奉什么神，我们天生就有差异。我们之所以身为人类，正是这些差异。
同样地，马来西亚在完全接纳我们的差异及多元后取得独立。正是东姑阿都拉曼对这种差异的认同及接纳，而让马来西亚成为一个国家。让我们再次肯定我们追求国家独立时的志愿，让各种族、各宗教及不同背景的人士，都在公正、民主及自由的共同价值观下团结起来。
林冠英