That’s why, added Lim who is also DAP Parliamentary Leader, the party has initiatives like Impian Sabah, Impian Sarawak, Impian Kelantan, Impian Johor, Impian Kedah/Perlis and Impian Perak. “These public outreach initiatives were born out of the conviction that we are all Malaysians.”
“The country cannot be developed, progressive and prosperous if there is any person, [no matter from] whatever race or religion or any state, is poor and backward. All Malaysians regardless of race, religion or region, are entitled to the full development of their potential and rights.”
Hence, said Lim, the battle against lies and falsehoods had been a particularly uphill battle for the DAP. “We had to face the full onslaught of the Umno juggernaut with its control and ownership of the mass media, particularly in the era before the advent of the Internet, the Internet news portals and the social media.”
Lim was commenting on a Darul Ehsan Institute (IDE) study that found that Umno-PAS attacks had been successful in fuelling anti-DAP sentiments among Malays, especially in rural areas. He wrote that the Darul Ehsan Institute (IDE) study is “a salutary wake-up call to all DAP leaders and members, and even supporters, of the need to take these demonisation campaigns seriously.”
There was, however, a silver lining in the dark cloud of the IDE study, pointed out Lim. “Anti-DAP sentiments were lower in areas with DAP-elected representatives even if they were Chinese, such as in Serdang, which is served by Ong Kian Ming, and Subang, which is represented by Hannah Yeoh. It shows that negative perceptions towards the party can be changed through direct contact and information campaigns.”
If the DAP was founded as a racial party looking after the interests of the Chinese community only, it must be doing quite a poor job since after half a century, only 72 per cent of the Malay respondents surveyed felt this was the case when it should be 100 per cent, added Lim. “Only 64 per cent of Malays felt that the DAP was an anti-Malay and anti-Islam party when it should again be 100 per cent.”
“In fact,” continued Lim, “in the first general election contested by the DAP in 1969, and now after the 2013 General Elections, the DAP has more Indian Members of Parliament than MIC.
“Is the DAP a party for the Indians?
“In the 58-year history of the nation,” he asked, “has there been any political party leader who had transcended racial and religious barriers to pay the highest political price for another Malaysian of a different race or religion?”
Lim then gave the example of Penang Chief Minister and DAP Secretary-General Lim Guan Eng who was disqualified as a Member of Parliament and went to jail in Kajang for standing up for the rights, honour and dignity of an underaged Malay girl.
“[Lim Guan Eng] was disenfranchised and lost all his civic liberties as a citizen to be elected as MP or State Assemblyman or even to cast his vote for five years after his prison release– all for standing up for the rights, honour and dignity of an underaged Malay girl.”
If there is any Umno, MCA, MIC or Gerakan leader who had crossed racial and religious boundaries in the past six decades to make the highest political sacrifice for another citizen of a different race or religion, the DAP veteran wants to know about it.