PETALING JAYA: DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang (pix) today said Malaysia faces an intensifying battle against fear and hate mongers who are using race and religion to further their cause.
He called on the youths to be at the forefront of this new battle which is mostly being fought on social media.
“This is the immediate battle in Malaysia – between the merchants of fear and hate who want to see a racial and religious conflagration through unchecked spread of fake news and hate speech and the patriots who want to prove them wrong and show that Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region, are united
“The youths of Malaysia should be in the thick of this battle to be in the frontlines to save the soul of Malaysia and establish a New Malaysia which is a top world-class nation of unity, freedom, justice, excellence and integrity,“ he said.
The Iskandar Putri MP echoed calls by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, for Malaysians to unite and put their differences aside.
“Speaking at the investiture ceremony of federal awards and honours at Istana Negara yesterday held in conjunction with his official birthday celebration, he reminded all Malaysians not to play up sensitive issues in the interests of any party,“ said Lim.
“The Agong said that every citizen has been promised rights and freedoms in accordance with the Federal Constitution, but that freedom must not go beyond the values that are fundamental to national unity.”
Lim said that the Malaysian youth were at the cusp of a transition as the nation moves to free itself from the shackles of corruption to achieve the objective for Malaysia to be among the world’s top 30 countries in integrity by year 2030.
“The objective for Malaysia to be among the world’s top 30 nations in integrity can never be achieved unless the youths of Malaysia are prepared to be in the frontline in the war against corruption.
“The Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, pledged the Pakatan Harapan government’s commitment in a New Malaysia to rehabilitate the country and liberate it from corruption and abuse of power.”
Bemoaning statistics indicating a willingness from civil servants to accept bribes, Lim laid down the gauntlet to the Malaysian youths.
“This is particularly pertinent as a survey by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) from 2014 until June this year shows that corruption is rampant among civil servants in the country, as they make up 46.3% of 4,860 persons arrested for graft offences over the period.
“The MACC survey revealed that 22.1% respondents in the public sector said they were willing to accept bribes if they were in a position of power.
“The question is whether the youths in Malaysia, regardless of race, religion or region, are prepared to take up the cudgels to ensure that Malaysia is one of the top 30 nations in integrity by 2030?”
