BN component parties ‘like beggars’, says Keng Yaik

http://sun2surf.com/article.cfm?id=22267

Kong See Hoh, The Sun

PETALING JAYA (May 12, 2008): Gerakan adviser Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik has likened MCA, Gerakan and MIC to “beggars” in the Barisan Nasional (BN) as the coalition did not treat its component parties equitably.

Criticising the lack of equitability in BN, Lim stressed that although the constitution guarantees the special rights of the Malays, it also safeguards the rights of non-Malays.

He said he believed that the people, who had indicated in the recent general election their desire for multi-racial parties to work together, would also want the BN to become a multi-racial political set-up which treats all people equitably.

Lim said this in an interview with Sin Chew Daily in which he gave his views on the new political order in the country and the shape of things to come.

The former Gerakan president and former Energy, Water and Communications Minister predicted that Umno-led BN’s model of cooperation will be discarded by the people one day.

He also foresaw that the coalition will change the way it operates given another two general elections.

He felt that under such circumstances, race-based parties like Umno, MCA and MIC will have to disband if BN goes multi-racial.

He said over-emphasis on cooperation among race-based parties will not make the people comfortable.

The people not only hope to see BN become a coalition of multi-racial parties but also want BN to play roles that reflect its multi-racial characteristics.

Lim pointed out that 39 years after the May 13, 1969, riots, the people have seen through the domination of a race-based party.

He said the fact that there was no repeat of the (May 13) bloodshed when the Opposition won big this time around showed the maturity of the people.

He said although Gerakan espouses political multi-racialism, it suffered a major setback in the general election mainly because its candidates were fielded in non-Malay-majority constituencies.

“Why were the non-Malays angry with BN? (It’s) Because of the arrogance of Umno, the dominant party in BN. Many people also felt uneasy with the racist remarks made by Umno leaders. These had also caused all BN component parties to suffer in the polls.”

He believed that if BN takes the multi-racial path, at least Umno leaders would be more careful with what they say in the future.

 

 

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/5/13/nation/21227496&sec=nation

Keng Yaik: BN didn’t treat all parties fairly

GERAKAN adviser Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik has said Barisan Nasional component parties were treated like beggars.

In an exclusive interview with Sin Chew Daily, Dr Lim said Barisan failed to treat all its component parties fairly.

He also said that although the rights of Malays were protected in the Constitution, other races also had their rights.

As shown from results of the recent general election, Dr Lim believed that the people wanted a multi-racial party that treated all races fairly.

He warned that parties like Umno, MCA and MIC would have to dissolve if they failed to adopt a multi-racial approach.

On Gerakan, Dr Lim said that although it was a multi-racial party, it still lost in the recent general election.

He blamed the outcome on Barisan sending Gerakan candidates to contest in non-Malay majority areas.

“Why are the non-Malays angry with Barisan? It is because they see that Umno has become proud. Some are also unhappy with the racist remarks of certain Umno leaders,” he said.