(Penang, Sunday): I am acting on the advice of the Yang di Pertuan Agong in his 43rd National Day Message urging "all Malaysian communities to preserve the existing unity among them" and that "Should problems arise, resolve them at the negotiating table and urgently".
In his National Day message, the Yang di Pertuan Agong said the key to preserving harmony in the country is to appreciate and practise the theme and slogan for this year's National Day celebration "Keranamu Malaysia" (because of you, Malaysia) and stressed that maintaining racial co-existence and religious tolerance would go a long way towards perpetuating a blissful life for the coming generations as well.
The Yang di Pertuan Agong’s National Day message is positive and
appropriate in instilling patriotism and love for the motherland
among Malaysians, unlike the 43rd National Day message of the Prime Minister,
Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad which had the dubious distinction of being
the most negative, divisive and disgraceful anti-national
Merdeka Day message delivered by a Prime Minister in 43 years.
It was precisely because the National Day is an event for all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or political beliefs, that the DAP was represented at highest national leadership level at the National Day Parade at Dataran Shah Alam by DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for Kepong, Dr. Tan Seng Giaw despite the party’s great unhappiness and grave reservations about the synthetic political and communal crisis which UMNO Youth had been trying to create out of a political vacuum and the outrageous "bloodshed" statement by the new Selangor Mentri Besar, Datuk Mohamad Khir Toyo which were totally antithetical to the National Day spirit.
In keeping with the advice of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong’s National Day message that "Should problems arise, resolve them at the negotiating table and urgently", I am seeking an appointment with the Prime Minister on his return from the United States to discuss the resolution of the political and ethnic tensions which had been created by UMNO Youth and certain extremist, bankrupt and desperate UMNO leaders who are prepared to mortgage inter-racial peace and harmony to create a scenario to justify a second Operation Lalang major crackdown against democracy and human rights with mass arrests of the leaders of the Opposition and dissent in the civil society.
I am seeking an urgent meeting with Mahathir by the following Monday
on 11th September 2000 and if the meeting with Mahathir eventuates, I would
explain to the Prime Minister why his 43rd National Day message was outrageous
and most unbecoming of the Prime Minister, why he had done a great injustice
in likening the Suqiu Committee to the Al-Ma’unah movement and to
those of the "communists in the past" for "fanning racial sentiments",
why he should have the grace and humility to withdraw and apologise for
his baseless and unfounded attacks on the Suqiu Committee, which had hurt
the feelings of the Malaysian Chinese despite their support for Barisan
Nasional in the last general election and a blue-print to initiate
national reconciliation and restore national unity.
(3/9/2000)