13th Perak DAP Annual Convention

Speech by Mr Ngeh Koo Ham at the 13th Perak DAP Annual Convention on 26/11/2006, Sunday at Hotel Excelsior, Ipoh, Perak

The euphoria of BN landslide's victory led by Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Abdullah Badawi in the last General Election has waned. The people realize that the high hopes they placed on Dato’ Seri Abdullah Badawi are broken dreams.

1. Racism – A vote for BN is a vote for racist UMNO

The recent UMNO Assembly once again shows that UMNO is a racist party and MCA, Gerakan and MIC and other component parties within BN are cowards who do not dare to stand up to the racism that is practised by UMNO. Supporters of MCA, Gerakan, MIC and other component parties must realize by now that a vote for Barisan Nasional is a vote for UMNO which is so dominant in BN that other component parties are cowed and have no say in BN. We are so disappointed with Dato’ Seri Abdullah Badawi who has declared himself to be the Prime Minister for all but did not rebuke or take action against those who have uttered seditious remarks during the UMNO General Assembly. Please walk the talk Mr Prime Minister! The people must send a clear message to BN and UMNO in the next general election that we live in a multi racial and multi religious country and that any form of racial or religious bigotry will not be tolerated.

2. Corruption

Dato’ Seri Abdullah is shackled within the corrupt system of the Barisan Nasional. The corruption within the country has worsen. Placed 23 in 1995 and 37 in 2003 (when the former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad stepped down) our position has dropped drastically to 44 in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index. We would once again want our Mr Prime Minister to walk the talk!

3. National Debt

Apart from the worsening corruption in the country, our national financial situation has also worsen. Our nation is indebted to the tune of RM238.4 billion (each Malaysian owing about RM10,000-00) and by the end of the 9th Malaysia Plan our debt is expected to increase to RM315.3 billion! i.e each Malaysian will be indebted in the sum of about RM13,700-00. We do not want to go through the experience of a developed nation like Argentina whose economy collapsed after 15 years of mismanagement. Argentina was placed the last among developed nations before its economic collapse while our country is placed top among the developing nations. A country that is ahead of us can collapse into economic chaos so can it also happen to our nation if we do not act to turn it around.

4. Economy

The national per capital income as announced by the Federal Government is RM19,484-00 which translates to a family of 5 (i.e 2 parents and 3 children) getting a salary of RM8,118-00 per month. In Perak the per capital income is only RM15,229-00 which translates to a family of 5 getting RM6,345-00 a month. However, we do not see the average Malaysian getting the type of salaries as stated above. The vast majority of Malaysians earn far below RM8,118-00 a month. The gap between the rich and the poor is very vast indeed. According to the United National report on Human Development the gap between the rich and the poor is widest in Malaysia among the ASEAN nations.The New Economic Policy only enrich the rich and the selected group within UMNO and BN. As can be see in recent newspaper reports, the rich Malays can afford to spend RM3.5 million for a wedding, a Malay Minister can afford to give his wife properties and cash worth RM50.00 million in a divorce settlement and the Malay politician who is charged for alleged spraying of dangerous substance on Tun Dr Mahathir Bin Mohamad can own a huge mansion with more than 10 luxury cars including a stretch 7,500cc Cardillac limousine bought for RM1,000,000-00! The DAP once again call on the government to help the people base on his/her economic standing and not base on his/her race.

5. Universities and University Colleges Act 1971

Generally speaking, the policy of the BN disallowing university and college under graduates to participate in politics is producing a generation of ‘I, Me, Self’ generation who is only concern for his/her career, his/her family and his/her life. Leisure and pleasure become the guiding principles of their lives compare to the past generation who were taught to sacrifice self for society and the nation. We must be worried what will become our nation when leaders with these values were to assume leadership in the not too distant future. The DAP call on the Government to allow the undergraduates to be nurtured in a more balanced way to care and show concern for the public and the nation.

6. Call to rise to the occasion

The people are looking for leadership of people who walk the talk. The opposition is expected to gain more support as people realized that real check and balance can only come from without and not within the BN system.

I call on DAP members and leaders to be prepared to shoulder the greater responsibility that the people would like us to play after the next general election.

I call on more calibered people to join the DAP to heed the cries of the people for good genuine people oriented leaders who are clean and trust worthy.

I call on all members to continue to disseminate the message that for an effective check and balance we need a greater opposition. We need to ensure that those who qualify to vote will register to vote so that their support can be translated and be seen in the next general election.