Speech (3) by Lim Kit Siang in Parliament on 2010 Budget on Thursday, 29^th October 2009: 

Does 2010 Budget pass as a 1Malaysia Budget?

Or does Najib think that Umno/BN victory in the Bagan Pinang by-election could be used as proof of popular support for his 1Malaysia slogan?

Then, what about Umno/BN defeats in the Bukit Gantang, Bukit Selambau and Permatang Pasir by-elections, if we do not to mention Penant by-election, where 1Malaysia theme could not ensure victory? Is this to be taken as three by-election defeats as against one victory for Najib’s 1 Malaysia since he became Prime Minister in April?

It is not wise to turn 1Malaysia into a political party issue.

I had publicly called on Najib to officially withdraw the 1Malaysia slogan from the BN Bagan Pinang by-election campaign.

Firstly, what 1Malaysia could the BN talk about when there is even no 1Umno, 1MCA, 1MIC or 1BN?

If there is 1Umno, Tan Sri Mohd Isa Samad would not have become the BN candidate in Bagan Pinang by-election as evident from the strong objections from former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir and Umno stalwart Tengku Razaleigh.

There is no 1MCA with the self-proclaimed third largest Chinese political party in the world split into three or four separate “forces”, with a Super force hovering over all of them as the Umno President holds a “golden share” in MCA with power exceeding the MCA President, MCA Central Committee and MCA General Meeting all combined!

Is there 1MIC although there is still 1Samy Vellu!

When is there is no 1Umno, 1MCA or 1MIC, where is the 1Barisan Nasional?

Secondly, half the voters of Malaysia or more than half the voters in Peninsular Malaysia rejected the Barisan Nasional in the political tsunami of the March 8 general election last year. This has robbed Najib of any legitimacy to claim the support of all Malaysians for his 1Malaysia slogan and policy, which have proved to be largely similar to the very policies which had been repudiated in the 12th general elections. Instead of producing 1Malaysia, 52-years of Umno/Barisan Nasional rule have produced a Half(1/2)Malaysia or 2Malaysia - a clearly DividedMalaysia.

Thirdly, if Najib is trying to craft a new 1Malaysia policy to unite Malaysians, regardless of race, religion or region, he should be inviting leaders of all political parties, whether in government or opposition, to reach a national consensus of a unifying overarching national policy accepted and recognized by the overwhelming majority of Malaysians as capable of qualifying to be termed 1Malaysia.

The last thing he should do is to turn his 1Malaysia slogan and programme into a divisive partisan question to be trotted out in by-elections as campaign issues.

The 1Malaysia logo dominated the recent Umno General Assembly and 1Malaysia is clearly the fad of the day in the speeches of UMNO leaders.

But are all the Umno leaders, including the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin really serious and fully committed to the 1Malaysia slogan as the overarching national philosophy in nation-building?

Without having to go into details, the first test of whether Najib, Muhyiddin and the Umno leaders are serious about 1Malaysia policy is whether they are prepared to set the example of being “Malaysian first, Malay second” for everyone to be Malaysian first and Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan or Iban second?

Although the proof of the pudding is in the eating, there is no need to get to the eating stage even.

Are Najib and all the Umno leaders prepared to make a public commitment that in keeping with the 1Malaysia motto, they pledge to be “Malaysian first, Malay second” just as all Malaysians should pledge to be Malaysian first and Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan or Iban second?

Can we get to this pledge stage of a 1Malaysia slogan?

I have grave doubts.

I for one pledge to be “Malaysian first, Chinese second”. Let every Minister, Deputy Minister and MP declare in Parliament that he or she is Malaysian first and Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan or Iban second!

*Lim Kit Siang, DAP Parliamentary leader & MP for Ipoh Timor