Speech by Lim Kit Siang when launching the DAP SuperSunday 18 walkabouts by DAP MPs, State Assembly members and leaders in 18 Chinese new villages, Malay kampongs and Indian settlements in Hulu Selangor constituency at the DAP Kuala Kubu Baru by-election centre on Sunday, 18^th April 2010: 

Another attack of Muhyiddin’s “foot-in-mouth” disease when he claimed that Kamalanathan is truly 1Malaysia as “Kamal” is Malay, “Alan” a Chinese and “Nathan” an Indian name

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had another attack of his “foot-in-mouth” disease when he claimed that the Barisan Nasional candidate for Hulu Selangor P. Kamalanathan is truly 1Malaysia as “Kamal” is Malay, “Alan” a Chinese and “Nathan” an Indian name.

Muhyiddin is insulting the intelligence of the 65,000 voters of Hulu Selangor with such “garbage”.

Would Kamalanathan respond and answer in a crowd if someone shouts “Kamal” or “Alan”? Clearly not.

If Kamalanathan’s name comprises of “Kamal”, “Alan” and “Nathan” then he has a longer name and should be called “Kamalalannathan”! The BN candidate for Hulu Selangor will stare at you for being hostile and unfriendly if you call him that!

Does Muhyiddin Yassin’s name qualify to be a “1Malaysia” name? Where are the Chinese and Indian components? What about Kadazan and Iban components?

All existing names of Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans and Ibans in Malaysia are truly 1Malaysia names, for this is proof of the wealth of diversity as well as the unique feature of Malaysia’s national unity from multi-racial, multi-religious and multi-linguistic diversity.

Muhyiddin should not trivialise the names of all Malaysians, whether Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazans or Ibans or Malaysians cannot but question his suitability and credibility as Malaysia’s Deputy Prime Minister.

It is sad that coming from someone who had declared that he is Malay first and Malaysian second, he should now come out with another blooper trying to play on the name of Kamalanathan as if the Pakatan Rakyat candidate Datuk Zaid Ibrahim does not have a sufficiently 1Malaysia name!

Muhyiddin should realise that he is making Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia slogan and concept into a big joke!

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