DAP 2017 New Year Message By DAP Secretary-General And MP For Bagan Lim Guan Eng In Kuala Lumpur On 31.12.2016.
Make 2017 A Year To Remind Everyone That It Is Because Of Our Differences That We Are Malaysian And Proud To Be One – Whilst Defending Truth, Justice And Basic Human Rights Are Important; Economic Security And Shared Prosperity Will Determine Whether We Can Protect Our Children’s Future From Being Stolen.
DAP wishes 30 million Malaysians a Happy New Year for 2017. 2016 was a challenging year with double-standards being the new normal in Malaysia. Violations of basic human rights descended to new depths, until Zunar can be arrested and charged for sedition because his cartoons are viewed as a national threat; truth treated like a disposable diaper where lies are worshipped by the BN-controlled mass media; and worse of all, those fighting corruption are labelled as corrupt whilst the corrupt, who robbed us of billions of US dollars escape scot-free.
Whilst defending truth, justice and basic human rights are important, economic security and shared prosperity will determine whether we can protect our children’s future from being stolen. Look at Felda’s share price dropping from its subscription price of RM4.55 per share to RM1.55 at yesterday’s closing price, causing huge share capital losses to Felda settlers and shareholders amongst them, losses to EPF of RM575 million, to Tabung Haji of RM848 million and to Pahang state government of RM545 million.
CIMB chairperson Datuk Seri Nazir Abdul Razak says Felda should justify its planned purchase of a 37% stake into an Indonesian company, PT Eagle High Plantations Tbk for USD 505 million At an purchase price of 580 rupiah per share, this is a 173% premium over PT Eagle’s average price in November of 212 rupiah per share. With the Federal government guaranteeing Felda’s bonds and lending, it is not only Felda settlers and shareholders’ future but Malaysian children’s future that could be stolen.
The shock election of Donald Trump as the President of the United States lends uncertainty and even instability and disorder to the global economy and trade. As a trading nation, Malaysians should stay united to face these economic challenges. Instead we are continuously divided along race, religion and background, where even the orang asli feels marginalized and left behind.
Somehow other Malaysians are made to feel inferior or the possibility of enjoying less than equal rights. Just because they are different in ethnicity, religion, background or even in the food that we eat, does not make them less Malaysian. Many have questioned whether those that are different must conform or be excluded from national mainstream, contrary to the Malaysian spirit or opposite to the empty slogan of 1 Malaysia?
Unity and diversity has never seemed so important, particularly when the BN Federal government has failed to defend the spirit of one people under one nation under one Federal Constitution. Instead laws are passed that undermine the very foundation of the Federal Constitution itself.
We should make 2017 a year to remind everyone that it is because of our differences that we are Malaysian and proud to be one. Only then can we resolve our economic difficulties, address the RM52 billion 1MDB scandal, the RM4.2 billon donation scandal, the economic hardships of imposing GST, the depreciation of the ringgit value, and many other financial scandals.
The economic situation is so alarming that the Federal government has little or no money until it could not raise a mere RM50 million in development funds promised to the Chinese primary schools. Is the Federal government so broke until it does not have even RM50 million?
All Malaysians should unite to defend common values that make Malaysia great. First and foremost, by freeing ourselves from fear as well as upholding freedom of speech, freedom of worship and freedom from want. Malaysians want a fifth freedom – freedom from corruption and unwarranted price rises (whether oil or cooking oil), only then can both Malaysia and our children’s future be saved!
LIM GUAN ENG
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民主行动党秘书长兼峇眼国会议员林冠英于2016年12月31日在吉隆坡发表的民主行动党2017年新年献词。
就让2017年作为提醒大家的一年，我们是因为彼此的不同才造就我们成为马来西亚人并且引以为荣，更重要的是我们彼此一起捍卫真相、正义与基本人权；经济的保障及繁荣的共享才能确保及保护我们孩子的将来不被偷走。
民主行动党祝愿3000万大马人2017年新年快乐.2016年是充满挑战的一年，因为马来西亚充斥着各种双重标准并以此成为新惯例。践踏基本人权纪录一再创新低，甚至连漫画家祖纳也能因为其漫画被逮捕及控告他煽动，理由竟然是他的漫画成为国家威胁。然而真正的威胁却好像即用即丢纸尿片一样被国阵控制的媒体以谎言掩盖弃之如敝屣，打击贪污的人被标签为贪污，然而真正贪污及盗窃数十亿美元的贪污者却逍遥法外。
在我们彼此一起捍卫真相、正义与基本人权的同时，经济的保障及繁荣的共享才能确保及保护我们孩子的将来不被偷走。请大家看看联邦土地发展局从上市价4令吉55仙一直掉落到昨天收市时的1令吉55仙，这已经导致了联邦土地发展局垦殖民及股东之间面对巨大损失，当中公积金局就损失了5亿7500万令吉、朝圣基金8亿4800万令吉，还有连彭亨州政府也损失了5亿4500万令吉。
联昌银行主席拿督斯里纳兹尔说联邦土地发展局需要解释其计划以5亿500万美元收购公司PT Eagle High种植37%股权，竟然是每股580印尼卢比，比PT Eagle在11月份的212印尼卢比平均股价高出173%。联邦土地发展局的债券及借贷都是由联邦政府做担保，如此一来这项损失已经不只是其垦殖民及股东的事而已，它可将全马小孩的将来也给偷走。
川普震撼性的当选美国总统为全球经济及贸易带来不确定甚至不稳定的因素。马来西亚作为贸易国，大马人必须团结一致面对这些经济挑战，而不是一直分种族、宗教与背景，连原住民也感受到被边缘化及被遗弃的处境。
无论如何，部分大马人被逼受到次等待遇或可能受到不公平的待遇，不能只因为他们拥有不同种族、宗教、背景，甚至吃的食物不同，就表示他们不够像大马人。很多人质疑是不是有所不同就必须要低头抚顺或否则被排除在国家主流之外？这不是有违马来西亚精神或与与空谈的一个马来西亚口号背道而驰吗？
团结与多元的美好看来一直好像不那么重要，特别是国阵联邦政府无法捍卫“有联邦宪法才能立国，有国家才能立人”的精神。可惜的是现在所立之法已经破坏了联邦宪法的根基。
我们应该把来临的2017年当做提醒的一年，提醒我们是因为彼此的不同才造就我们成为马来西亚人并且引以为荣。唯有这样我们才能解决我们的经济困境、520亿令吉的1MDB丑闻、42亿令吉的捐献丑闻、消费税所带来的经济苦难、马币的大贬值及其他金融丑闻。
经济状况如今已经响起警报，联邦政府甚至连已经承诺的5000万令吉华小拨款也挪不出来。难道联邦政府已经拮据到连5000万令吉也没有吗？
全体大马人应该团结一致捍卫让马来西亚强盛的共同价值。我们争取言论自由、宗教自由、需求自由让及争取让我们免于恐惧的同时，大马人还要争取第五项自由，那就是免于贪污及无论是汽油或食油的不合理物价调涨，只有这样我们孩子的将来才有保障！
林冠英