Kit Siang pays tribute to his mentor, takes a swipe at a two-time PM who has no protégé
RETIRED DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang has bestowed his mentor and DAP co-founder the late Dr Chen Man Hin the recognition of a “towering Malaysian” for instilling the seed of Malaysian Dream in him as opposed to twice premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad whom he described as “a towering Malay who ended up by losing his parliamentary deposit in the 15th General Election (GE15).”
The veteran lawmaker made such assessment as he flashed back to events prior to and post the May 13 tragedy during a trip to Seremban yesterday (May 18) for the re-naming ceremony of Jalan Temiang in Seremban to Jalan Dr Chen Man Hin by Transport Minister and DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke Siew Fook.
“I was 25 years old and Dr Chen was 42 years old when the DAP was registered 57 years ago in 1966, and we set out on the journey to start DAP’s Malaysian Dream where Malaysians regardless of race, religion and region, were united to prove to the world that a Third World country could practise parliamentary democracy,” the country’s longest-serving Opposition leader (29 years on three separate occasions) penned in his latest blog.
“I was editor of the DAP publication, The Rocket, and I can still remember that in 1966, Dr Chen crossed swords with a person who later became prime minister (PM) twice for 24 years or 40% of Malaysian history since Independence in 1957 and I carried their writings in The Rocket in 1966.”
Pic credit: Rocketkini
Added the former Iskandar Puteri MP who quit active politics in March last year and has even turned down offer to be ‘party mentor’:
“Though China-born, Dr Chen became a towering Malaysian – serving all Malaysians regardless of race and religion – whether in his medical profession or in politics as he initiated the Malaysian Dream for Malaysian unity and purpose while his antagonist became a Towering Malay who ended up by losing his parliamentary deposit in the GE15.”
Describing the naming of a road after Dr Chen Man Hin as most befitting, Kit Siang said his mentor had dreamt the Malaysian Dream and that Malaysia can only succeed if all Malaysians dream the Malaysian Dream instead of a “Malay Dream”, a “Chinese Dream”, an “Indian Dream”, “Kadazan Dream” or “Dayak Dream”.
“Dr Chen fought the fight for all Malaysians for five decades without asking anything in return for himself,” reminisced Kit Siang.
“A five-term MP for Seremban, Dr Chen should be a model for all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region if Malaysia wants to become a world-class great nation. Malaysia needs more Dr Chen if the country is to achieve its potential and become a world-class great nation.” – May 19, 2023
Added the former Iskandar Puteri MP who quit active politics in March last year and has even turned down offer to be ‘party mentor’:
“Though China-born, Dr Chen became a towering Malaysian – serving all Malaysians regardless of race and religion – whether in his medical profession or in politics as he initiated the Malaysian Dream for Malaysian unity and purpose while his antagonist became a Towering Malay who ended up by losing his parliamentary deposit in the GE15.”
Describing the naming of a road after Dr Chen Man Hin as most befitting, Kit Siang said his mentor had dreamt the Malaysian Dream and that Malaysia can only succeed if all Malaysians dream the Malaysian Dream instead of a “Malay Dream”, a “Chinese Dream”, an “Indian Dream”, “Kadazan Dream” or “Dayak Dream”.
“Dr Chen fought the fight for all Malaysians for five decades without asking anything in return for himself,” reminisced Kit Siang.
“A five-term MP for Seremban, Dr Chen should be a model for all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region if Malaysia wants to become a world-class great nation. Malaysia needs more Dr Chen if the country is to achieve its potential and become a world-class great nation.” – May 19, 2023
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