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Peter Dason
belongs to the rare breed of Malaysian political leaders who to his last
breath had stood firm and consistent by his political principles, unbowed
and unyielding to pressures or temptations of office, wealth and position Media Statement - at the funeral of former DAP stalwart, Peter Paul Dason, three-term MP and two-term Penang State Assemblyman by Lim Kit Siang (Penang, Saturday): Peter Paul Dason belongs to the rare breed of Malaysian political leaders who to his last breath had stood firm and consistent by his political principles, unbowed and unyielding to pressures or temptations of office, wealth and position. There are many who would regard Peter Dason as a foolish politician and even a political failure, whose yardstick of political success is the ability to garner wealth and position for himself and his family. By this reckoning, Peter Dason is a “failure” for he is neither Tan Sri, Datuk Seri, Datuk nor conferred the lowest national or state honour, like many of his juniors and inferiors who are his contemporaries in the ruling coalition. Unlike many of his contemporaries, he had never tried to leverage his political commitment to pile up a personal fortune or gain special status for himself. In fact, such a thought would be completely alien and repugnant to him – and had never entered his head. In his 38 years in the DAP, Peter Dason joins the select and noble ranks of Malaysians who remain true to their political principles and convictions to their last breath – while many have fallen by the wayside, either buckling to unfair and undemocratic political pressures, succumbing to material temptations or the lack of the political stamina to stand firm in the cause of a Malaysian Malaysia to uphold the Merdeka social contract that Malaysia is a secular democracy with Islam as the official religion but not an Islamic State. DAP will organize a memorial meeting to remember and honour Peter Dason’s life-long contribution and dedication to the cause for justice, fair play and freedom for all Malaysians, and to be an example to the new generation of Malaysians. Although Peter Dason has fallen and left the physical world, his indomitable spirit for justice, freedom, democracy and good governance for all Malaysians must live on. Malaysia needs more Peter Dasons as the new standard-bearers for the cause of a Malaysian Malaysia to uphold the Merdeka social contract that Malaysia is a secular democracy with Islam as the official religion but not an Islamic State so that Malaysia can become a just, democratic, modern, progressive and prosperous society.
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