PETALING JAYA: DAP veteran leader Lim Kit Siang today called on Malaysians not to lose faith on the DAP’s defeat in the Teluk Intan by-election.
“The wafer-thin by-election loss in Teluk Intan should become the stepping-stone to national victory for a new Malaysia tomorrow,” he said in a statement today.
DAP candidate Dyana Sofya Mohd Daud lost the by-election to Gerakan’s Mah Siew Keong by a 238 vote-majority.
Lim however emphasised that electoral defeat was not the end of the world.
He, himself, lost the Serdang state assembly by-election back in 1969 when he was a 27-year-old, by a vote-majority of 607.
Nevertheless, four months later in the 1969 general elections, DAP won the Serdang state assembly seat with a 3,314 vote-majority.
Lim also lost the Bukit Bendera constituency in the 1999 general elections by a 104 vote-majority, forcing him out of Parliament for the first time since 1969.
He added it was important to keep faith to political principles and objectives, as well as to never succumb to setbacks and pressures.
“We must remain firm in our purpose to bring about political changes where the old and divisive politics of race, corruption and abuses of power is replaced by the new and inclusive Malaysian politics of harmony, justice, freedom, accountability and good governance,” he said.
Praising Dyana, he said she was fully committed in her political principles and ideals.
“I call particularly on the young generation of Malaysians regardless of race, religion or region to rally behind Dyana to bring about new politics, new mindsets and a new Malaysia.”
