Sigma’s Simulacrum of Reality

DAP has always had a tradition for having strong leaders leading it. In fact, what DAP lacks in grassroot support it makes up for in terms of its easily recognisable leaders.

Obvious, when talking about DAP leaders, we have to first start with a certain Yang Berhormat Lim Kit Siang.

Unfortunately, I’ve not had the privilleged to meet the great man personally, although I almost did at one time. It was when I was back in Bukit Mertajam visiting my grandma. I was sitting in a restaurant with my dad attacking some yummy Penang Hokkien Mee, when this Ah Beng-looking chap came into the shop and started telling us that Mr LKS would be giving a talk later on in the week, in support of Bukit Mertajam’s MP, Chong Eng.

Anyways, back to Mr LKS. From what I managed to find (and read before), the venerable 65 year old Mr Lim was formerly a reporter during his early days. Later on, while in prison under Operasi Lalang, he obtained a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of London. Mr Lim joined DAP and won his first parliamentary seat in Kota Melaka in 1969. From then on, he proceeded to win the seat of Bandar Melaka (1974 - 1978), Petaling Jaya (1978 - 1982), Kota Melaka (1982 - 1986), Tanjong (1986 - 1999), Ipoh Timur (2004 - present). Apart from serving as a federal MP, Mr Lim has also served as a State Assemblyman before in the seats of Kubu, Melaka (1974 - 1982), Kampong Kolam, Penang (1986 - 1990) and Padang Kota, Penang (1990 - 1995).

Mr Lim had had his fair amount of hardships and adversities in his political career and for holding steadfast to his principles. Just sworn into parliament for the first time in 1969, he quickly found himself in the spotlight after being made one of the scapegoats for the May 13 racial riots, and was subsequently imprisoned for 18 months without being charged under the Internal Security Act (ISA - notorious Malaysian law formerly used to detain communists, now used to detain political opponents indefinately).

Then in 1979, Mr Lim was again made to feel the brunt of another repressive Malaysian law, the Official Secrets Act (OSA), after exposing an inappropriate arms deal between the government and a Swiss company. Because that exposure involved revealing documents liberally stamped with ‘Rahsia Sah Kerajaan’ (Official Government Secret), he was supposedly guilty of exposing critical documents that relate to national security, and was subsequently convicted of 5 charges under it.

Next in 1987 came the most notorious usage of the ISA in the history of Malaysia, in the form of Operasi Lalang (Weeding Operation). It started with the Education Ministry’s (under Anwar Ibrahim, lest one forgets) appointment of about 100 principles and senior assistants that were not Mandarin-educated to Chinese vernacular schools. This sparked an uproar among the Chinese educationalists (Dong Jiao Zong) who claimed that the move was aimed at reducing the independence of the Chinese educational system. After the issue evolved into becoming yet another racial issue, the government initiated Operasi Lalang and used the ISA to imprison up to 106 people, mostly made up of political leaders, education group leaders and activists. Lim Kit Siang was one of those people arrested. He was imprisoned without trial for 17 months.

Mr Lim is presently Malaysia’s Opposition Leader, and Chairman of DAP’s Central Policy and Strategic Planning Commission, after stepping down from the position of DAP National Chairman, a position he has held since 1999. Prior to that, Mr Lim helmed the position of Secretary-General of DAP for 30 years, from 1969 to 1999, and that was generally the period in which he made a name for himself as a pugnacious politician, not afraid of exposing the wrong-doings of people in high places, without regard towards his personal freedom in doing so.

Mr LKS should be commended for his services to the DAP, and to the Malaysian people in general. Through his leadership, DAP has come to be known as a righteous party that hasn’t been tainted by the scent of corruption. Most of DAP MPs are also a courageous bunch, who’s not afraid of having to face incarceration for their beliefs. He has also given DAP the proud image of a party with integrity and dedication towards its cause of a fairer Malaysian Malaysia society. I don’t think I’ve known of any major scandal that DAP has been involved as yet. Correct me if I’m wrong on this. Also, IMO, DAP is the best performing party in terms of raising pertinent and important issues in Malaysia. It sticks towards unearthing corruptions, abuse of powers, education issues, maintaining religious pluralism and multiculturalism in Malaysia, and other similar issues in its activities. How many times have you heard PAS raising these issues? Or Keadilan? Or BN? DAP, under Mr Lim, also has the unique (and commendable) distinction as the first Malaysian political party to enbrace the Internet and blogs in particular, as a means of communication with the average Malaysian. This is even more admirable when you consider that Mr LKS ain’t exactly a young thing anymore This action is also required in order to disseminate DAP’s true views and stands on various issues, without needing to go through Malaysia’s BN-biased mass media to do so. Here are the blogs of some DAP MP and State Assemblymen:

1. Mr Lim Kit Siang - MP for Ipoh Timur
2. Ms Fong Po Kuan - MP for Batu Gajah
3. Mr Chow Kon Yeow - MP for Tanjong
4. Mr M. Kulasegaran - MP for Ipoh Barat
5. Ms Chong Eng - MP for Bukit Mertajam (my hometown! )
6. Mr Tan Seng Giaw - MP for Kepong
7. Ms Teresa Kwok - MP for Seputeh
8. Mr Teng Chang Kim - State Assemblyman for Sg Pinang
9. Mr Lau Weng San - DAP political staff

I’ve seen some of Mr Lim’s performances in parliament, and although adequate, Mr Lim isn’t exactly the greatest of orators. I sense he’s more confortable orating in English or Mandarin than Malay. However, what he lacks in suaveness and debating flair, he more than makes up for it in terms of substance. Just through reading his blog, you can sense that he genuinely cares about Malaysians and the problems facing their country, and that he’s not in politics for the money. What money is there in being an Opposition member in Malaysia? So, whatever one thinks about this man, his sincerity and dedication towards his and DAP’s cause should not be questioned.

Part 2 (b): LKS’s Right-Hand Man, and the Young Turks