DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang delivered his first public speech tonight after being absent from the political scene for a month due to a cancer operation.

Despite having kept silent during the recuperation period, Lim appeared to have kept abreast of the developments in the country.

Something that had remained unchanged during his absence, noted Lim, was the demonisation of him.

"Firstly, I wish to thank all Malaysians, especially Pakatan Harapan and DAP leaders, members and supporters, as well as those from other political parties and organisations, for their support, concern and good wishes during my cancer operation and month-long break and recuperation.

"I found, however, that I could not escape the demonisation campaign against me, even during the five-week break," he told some 800 supporters a ceramah , dubbed "100 days to Putrajaya" at Taman Impian Emas, Skudai tonight.

Lim appeared in good mood and warmly greeted his supporters despite occasionally appearing to be in pain and moving stiffly. A woman was heard shouting "Lao-da (big brother), I love you" while another supporter asked him to take care of himself as he is an important leader for the country.

Addressing the crowd, Lim pointed out that on the same day he was hospitalised, The Star had published an article quoting MCA president Liow Tiong Lai (photo) that his (Lim) alleged ambition to become prime minister would damage racial ties and ruin the country.

The Gelang Patah has denied any ambition of wanting to become prime minister and accused opponents of racial fearmongering.

"I continued to be demonised by the Umno/BN cybertroopers as anti-Malay, anti-Islam, responsible for the May 13 riots, a 'mysterious' billionaire who threw tens or hundreds of millions of ringgit to sponsor news portals and fund cybertroopers, a communist, stooge of foreign powers – quite a devil, a puaka (demon), even jembalang (goblin) ," said Lim.

Lim also noted that Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in his New Year's message had made reference to him, justifying that it was Lim's past calls for a royal commission of inquiry into the forex scandal that prompted the government to set one up against former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"However, Najib continued to turn a deaf ear to my repeated current calls for an RCI into the international multi-billion 1MDB money-laundering scandal, which had catapulted Malaysia to the infamous stratosphere of 'global kleptocracies'," he said.

On Dec 27 last year, DAP revealed that Lim had undergone a surgery to remove an early-stage cancerous tumour on his left kidney.

The 76-year-old's public appearance tonight came exactly a month since the surgery.

Also present at the ceramah were DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and Bersatu Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

A pre-recorded video of Harapan chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad was also aired at the ceramah.

In the video, Mahathir said he was glad that Lim was now well.

Mahathir said Lim's voice, as an experienced leader, carried weight.

He added that cooperation between young and old and a fusion between new ideas and experience were necessary.