DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang has urged the Orang Asli community to join the party and use it as a platform to better their lot.

“Orang Asli should come to political parties and play their role, not just (be active) in civil society. If they come to DAP, we’ll welcome them,” he said at a conference on non-discrimination in Kuala Lumpur today.

“The doors are open to all Malaysians - regardless whoever it is - who believe in the course of justice, freedom, and good governance, we always welcome everyone,” he added.

Lim said this after a participant from the NGO Jaringan Kampung Orang Asli Semenjung Malaysia (JKOASM) lamented that the orang asli community do not have their own political party to represent them, and asked how the community can protect its rights and fight discrimination.

He replied there is no need for a new political party to represent orang asli interests, and stressed that DAP is also against race-based policies.

To another question, Lim denied ‘tokenism’ in fielding its Malay leaders such as Bukit Bendera MP Zairil Khir Johari, and former Teluk Intan by-election candidate Diyana Sofya Mohd Daud.

On the contrary, he said these party leaders and others are all expected to pull their weight.

He said that since 1969, the party had been mindful in keeping a multicultural outlook, even though this proved difficult as the party is constantly accused of being anti-Malay and anti-Islam.