Cabinet tomorrow should sponsor a RM100,000 essay or social media posting contest on “Is Najib a kleptocrat?” or “Is Malaysia a global kleptocracy?”?

Today, the UMNO Information Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa offererd RM10,000 for the best essay or social media posting which can prove that I am a “racist”.

He said that the social media posting or essay should be titled “LKS is a racist, anti-Islam and a dictator of 51 years, is it true?”.

He said that the reason for the UMNO Information Office essay or social media posting competititon was “to encourage people to carry out a research into allegations of Kit Siang being a racist, anti-Islam and a dictator”.

This is disgraceful, cheapskate and gutter politics.

Responsible and respectable politicians only make serious allegations against others when they have proofs and evidence, but Annuar Musa does the opposite and belongs to the dishonourable category who hurl allegations at others and then look for evidence to substantiate the allegations.

Annuar’s claim of a RM100,000 essay contest is the strongest proof that Annuar had no evidence whatsoever when he alleged that I am “anti-Malay and anti-Islam” and he is now trying to look for evidence to substantiate his allegations – and he had thought of a cheapstake way of doing it.

I had countered by calling Annuar “father of racists” and “a disgrace to Islam” and let’s see whether he would dare to sue me in court. As to whether I would institute legal proceedings against Annuar, I am seeking legal advice on the matter.

Annuar’s RM100,000 essay is also downright irresponsible.

He hope to poison the minds of Malaysians by organising such an essay/social media posting competition, but will he give a blanket guarantee to all participants to pay all damages for all essays/social media postings in cases of defamation?

It would be more useful for the Cabinet meeting tomorrow to sponsor an essay writing or social media posting contest on “Is Najib a kleptocrat?” or “Is Malaysia a global kleptocracy?” – with RM100,000 award to the best essay or posting, RM50,000 to the second-best and RM10,000 to the third-best.

I had in fact asked Barisan Nasional Ministers and Members of Parliament in Parliament last November whether they understood the meaning of “Kleptocracy” especially as the US Department of Justice (DOJ) lawsuits to confiscate over US$1 billion 1MDB-linked assets in the United States, United Kingdom and Switzerland arising from US$3 billion 1MDB international money-laundering scandal was made under the US Kleptocratic Assets Recovery Initiative?

I told Parliament that kleptoracy is a government of 3Ps – Pencuri, Perompak and Penyamun.

Former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad said there is a 4P in kleptocracy – Penyangak.

I do not think any patriotic Malaysian, regardless of race, religion, region or even politics, want Malaysia to become a kleptocracy and they become citizens of 3P or 4P kleptocracy.

This is why I had put in a question in the current meeting of Parliament asking the Prime Minister as to what steps the government has taken to cleanse and restore the good name and reputation on Malaysia from being regarded and ridiculed as a global kleptocracy.

But this question was rejected by the Speaker, Tan Sri Pandikar Amin Mulia perversely claiming that it violated Parliamentary Standing Orders.

If MPs cannot ask this question in Parliament, then Malaysians should ask such a question to Najib and all the Cabinet Ministers, and this is why a Cabinet sponsorship of essay or social media posting competition on “Is Najib a kleptocrat?” or “Is Malaysia a global kleptocracy?” would be a great act allowing Malaysians to show their patriotism and love for Malaysia.

Let us see whether the Cabinet tomorrow dare to sponsor such an essay writing or social media posting competition!

Lim Kit Siang DAP Parliamentary Leader & MP for Gelang Patah