In a special message to the youths in Sarawak, Lim Kit Siang said the efforts of a nonagenarian and two septuagenarians alone cannot save Malaysia.

This was in reference to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, 94, PKR president Anwar Ibrahim, 72 and himself, 78.

For Malaysia is to be saved, the DAP veteran said, the energies and idealism of the youths are required.

Therefore, he urged the youths in Sarawak, especially those in the 16 – 25 age group, who might be eligible to vote in the 12th state election in the next 12 to 20 months, to play a pioneering role.

The Sarawak election is expected next year or latest in 2021 and would be the first to be affected by the recent constitutional amendment to lower the voting age from 21 to 18.

To emphasise his point, Lim recalled the words of Indonesia's first president Sukarno, who said he could shake the world if he is given 10 young men.

“Can the youths of Sarawak 'shake' Malaysia?” asked the Iskandar Puteri MP.

According to Lim, the youths in Sarawak must show the way for other Malaysian youths before the 15th general election in 2023 of the “positive energy they are capable of transmitting to save Malaysia from the trajectory of a divided, failed, rogue and kleptocratic state”.

“It may be asked whether Malaysia had not been saved from such a trajectory in the historic and miraculous 14th general election on May 9, 2018? Why is it necessary to save Malaysia from such a disastrous fate once again?

“Yes, Malaysia had been saved from the trajectory towards a divided, failed, rogue and kleptocratic state on May 9, 2018, but the mission of a New Malaysia, where the country becomes a top world-class nation of unity, freedom, justice, excellence and integrity, cannot be accomplished within one general election cycle but is a long-term struggle lasting a decade or more, especially after the devastation and depredations of the last government which won for Malaysia the infamous and ignominious appellation of a global kleptocracy.

“There are people who want to stamp out the historic and miraculous decision of May 9, 2018, and restore the country into the hands of those who preach an alliance of klepto-theocracy, through the untrammelled spread of fake news and hate speech to incite inter-racial and inter-religious polarisation and conflict, and who do not mind a big racial and religious conflagration in Malaysia which prompted some to openly talk about 'rindu May 13',” he added.

'All patriotic Malaysians want to see Najib in jail'

Meanwhile, Lim reiterated how fake news and hate speech, especially on social media, had lead every ethnic community to be consumed with fear, distrust and hatred, believing that it is facing an existential threat to its rights, position and future in Malaysia.

Calling them “timebombs of nation-building”, the DAP leader said these must be deactivated.

Malaysians developing a social media literacy to acquire critical thinking to differentiate fake from genuine, know what is right and wrong, true and false, moral and immoral.

“I challenge the youths of Sarawak to take on this task to pioneer a Malaysian youth movement to drive and sustain a 'Save Malaysia' campaign from fake news and hate speech which incite inter-racial and inter-religious polarisation and conflict.

“Sarawak has always been a better model of a harmonious and tolerant plural society than Peninsular Malaysia. This is a lesson which Sarawak must deliver in the 12th state election to ensure that there is greater unity, understanding, harmony and inclusiveness in a diverse Malaysian society,” he added.

In his message, Lim also took a swipe at former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak when urging Sarawak youths to lead a Malaysian youth movement to drive and sustain a campaign for good governance.

“The very fact that Najib could still make a sick joke about his 1MDB global kleptocracy and said that all Malaysians are his 'cronies' who should be jailed like him is most revolting and absurd.

“However, it is a sub-conscious acknowledgement by him that what he did was wrong and his proper place is in jail...

“All patriotic Malaysians would want to see Najib in jail now, but the Pakatan Harapan government is committed to the restoration of the rule of law and must accept that a criminal trial is a long and slow-moving process,” Lim added.