Worthy government will not use extremism and racism to rule, says Guan Eng

In an apparent swipe at Barisan Nasional (BN) and Umno, DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng today said a government worth its salt will not rely on extremism or racism in its rule, but would instead provide better facilities and living standards for the population.

The Penang chief minister said the people at large can eventually see for themselves which government possesses true merits based on the work it does without undue inflammatory rhetoric.

“Let the people themselves see the changes brought about by the state government. The people know,” he said in his speech at the opening of the Penang DAP state convention at the Dewan Ng Yam Huat in Bukit Mertajam.

“What is the use of rhetoric from an extremist or racist government when the people still live in deprivation?” he added.

Citing as example the BN federal government’s move to remove fuel subsidies from December 1, he said it was an unacceptable decision that would inconvenience the people, especially since oil prices have dropped globally.

Also present were Penang DAP chairman Chow Kon Yeow, and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) leaders including PAS deputy president and Penang commissioner Mohamad Sabu and PKR Penang chief Datuk Mansor Othman.

Guan Eng’s remarks came a day after DAP adviser and Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang expressed concern about whether the Umno general assembly this week will see another round of attacks against the Chinese community.

Kit Siang noted that Umno vice-president and defence minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein had said last week that the relevance of maintaining the Chinese school system will be one of the hotly-debated topics at the assembly.

Guan Eng said if PR can focus on raising the living standards of the people, the voters of all races, whether Malays, Chinese or Indians, will keep supporting the coalition.

“That is the difference in philosophy that the Pakatan Rakyat government will introduce to Malaysia,” he said, referring to the coalition’s quest to take over Putrajaya.

“We are not like the other government which tries to play up extremism and racism. We do not want to compete based on racism and extremism. We want to see who can give better service.”

“I feel that is the finest way to express our gratitude to 68% of voters who supported Pakatan Rakyat (in Penang) at the general election of 2013,” he said, adding that it was the single biggest electoral majority in the history of Penang.

“We must repay this trust by ensuring Penang always leads in the various sectors.” – November 23, 2014.