In its Chinese New Year message, the DAP said it made both political and economic sense to put people first and ensure no one was forgotten.
Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng added: “This is the aspiration for the Chinese New Year, respecting everyone’s hopes and ensuring no one is forgotten in a democracy filled with freedom, justice and integrity.”
Lim, who is also Penang chief minister, said Malaysians must work towards establishing inclusive institutions that fostered economic growth and oppose “extractive institutions” that crippled growth.
In extending Happy Chinese New Year greetings, he also expressed the DAP’s sympathies to the victims of flooding in the country.
The opposition stalwart took the opportunity to criticise the government and government policies.
“A government full of rage and filled with the need to survive at all cost is conspicuous by its cruelty, ignorance and greed. Our unity is now marred by continuous discord that serves to divide us, even on daily matters like greetings or food, to distract attention from the real economic problems and solutions.”
Saying this year’s Chinese New Year celebrations would be celebrated in moderation due to the drop in the value of the ringgit and the imposition of the GST, he urged everyone to keep “believing a better Malaysia is possible, where the economy works for 30 million Malaysians and not the few BN cronies”.
He said there was no “real democracy” in Malaysia as “the only freedom is the freedom to hate, to lie and to fear” and that justice was for the elites to practice double-standards and selective prosecution. Also, “there is no more integrity except to punish the whistleblowers instead of the corrupt.”
However, he went on to claim, Penang had proven how the people could benefit from a democracy with freedom, justice and equality.
“Malaysia possesses the talent, the creativity and the ingenuity to do better. We have every right to reject an economy that does not work for hardworking people, but allows cronies to profit from the status quo. That is not a democracy but a Mafia.”
Lim also sounded out about Malaysians having to cope in a more pessimistic world as Donald Trump, the new president of the United States, had expressed his intention of turning his back on fair trade, globalisation and possibly even allies and friends.