Guan Eng’s trials and tribulations should not be in vain but contribute towards a better Malaysia - with justice for all!


Speech
- DAP ceramah

by Lim Kit Siang  

(Penang, Sunday): This is the third time that DAP Deputy Secretary-General and MP for Kota Melaka, Lim Guan Eng, spent his third birthday (December 8, 1998) and third Christmas in jail.  The first time was in the Malacca police lock-up  in 1987 when he was detained under the Internal Security Act during Operation Lalang and was being held under the first 60 days of interrogative custody, while the second time was in 1988 when he was detained  at the Kamunting Detention Centre together with me. Guan Eng and myself were the last of the two Operation Lalang ISA detainees to be released in April 1989, after 18 months’ detention

Guan Eng has lost  10 kg (or 22 pounds) or almost 15% of his weight after  four months of imprisonment.

On behalf of Guan Eng, I want to thank Malaysians who have sent Guan Eng birthday wishes and Christmas greetings.  I am particularly touched by those who feel so deeply about the injustice of Guan Eng’s case that they wished they could do one or  two weeks’ jail sentence in Kajang Prison  for Guan Eng.

If  Malaysia has a system where it is possible  for another person to serve in full or in part the jail sentence for another, even for a week or two, I have no doubt that there would be enough Malaysians who would be prepared to spend a spell in jail for Guan Eng’s behalf to cover the entire 18-month jail sentence imposed on Guan Eng.

But we do not have such a system in Malaysia and rightly so. However, it is the thought of Malaysians who feel so outraged that they wish they could serve a week or two of jail for Guan Eng that counts - as it show that the battle for justice, truth and freedom, however long, hardy and lonely, is not all lost.

There are of course cruel and heartless people who would declare, whether on the Internet or elsewhere, that they do not care for Guan Eng’s plight and who could even say that Guan Eng deserve his two concurrent 18-month jail sentences - but I believe that this is only a very small handful of very bigoted and misguided people.

I want to thank all who have continued to pray for Guan Eng and send their messages of support, sympathy and solidarity to Guan Eng in prison.  I particularly thank the composer of the following poem which he sent for Guan Eng:
 

 

Vignettes of Prison Life in Kajang Prison

Many have expressed concern at how Lim Guan Eng is coping with the hardships of prison life.  I will try  to satisfy such queries by providing snapshots of the daily routine of Lim Guan Eng in Kajang Prison.

These vignettes indicate how Lim Guan Eng deals with adversities, harsh physical conditions or the rigours of prison life.  All the information and incidents were culled from conversations Guan Eng had with his family members and lawyers during prison visits.

1.  Food

2.  Physical Conditions
 

3.  Family visits
 

Whither Justice? Whither Women’s Rights?

My  family feels very strongly about the treatment of Guan Eng and the ill-health he suffered as a result of the harsh rigours of prison life. We  will however let facts speak for themselves.  Guan Eng has always faced his sufferings with dignity, maintained good spirits and even a wry humour at his present predicament.  My family hopes that all of Guan Eng’s trials and tribulations will not be in vain but contribute towards bringing about a better Malaysia, "With Justice For All".

(27/12/98)


*Lim Kit Siang - Malaysian Parliamentary Opposition Leader, Democratic Action Party Secretary-General & Member of Parliament for Tanjong