Sim was alluding to Mandela's speech, Yii tells MCA Youth

Bandar Kuching MP Dr Kelvin Yii has slammed MCA Youth for “playing politics” after it allegedly misled people about Human Resources Minister Steven Sim’s speech at last night’s Free Palestine Rally.

Yii said the minister’s speech was a call for peace and global solidarity with Palestine, and the contentious portion linking Malaya’s independence to Palestinian liberation was an allusion to the South African leader Nelson Mandela’s speech in 1997.

During the 1997 International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, Mandela said, “But we know too well that our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians; without the resolution of conflicts in East Timor, Sudan and other parts of the world”.

Yii (above) explained, “In making that call, Mandela didn't mean that the freedom and independence of South Africa was not achieved, but how could they claim freedom when there are brothers in the global community that are facing atrocities, war and genocide?

“It was in that very context that Sim rallied our country to stand in solidarity with the cause of humanity as it is not just about the death of one man, but the loss of more than 39,000 lives - and thousands even before that - many of them innocent woman, children.

“So, it is saddening that in the midst of a humanitarian crisis, all MCA is concerned about is to play politics for their own self-interest and try to mislead the people on the actual context of the speech.”

The DAP Youth chief was responding to MCA Youth deputy chief Jacob Lee who accused Sim of being ignorant of Malaysia’s history.

“The independence of Malaya was achieved through a series of struggles, negotiations, and efforts. It was the result of the collective efforts and struggle of all the people.

“His (Sim’s) ignorance and distortion of facts of the independence of our history is irritating,” Lee said earlier today.

During the rally at Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil yesterday, Sim said Malaysia’s independence since 1957 is not complete as long as Palestine is not free and independent.

The Bukit Mertajam MP had urged all Malaysians to support Palestine’s independence, stressing that what is happening there is a humanitarian issue.

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