DAP leader Lim Kit Siang has described the upcoming general election, which will be held on March 8, as the “last hope for change and an acid test” on whether there is a future for Malaysians.

“This 12th general election, unlike the previous 11 general elections, is not just about the next five years but a vote about the first 50 years of Malaysian nationhood and the next 50 years,” he said.

“It will be the clincher in the decision-making of many Malaysians whether there is hope to build a democratic, just and competitive Malaysia or there will be a new exodus of brain-drain of the best and brightest of Malaysians to other lands in despair at any possibility that all Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, can have an equal place under the Malaysia sun.”

He said that the national polls offer voters a golden opportunity to “halt and dismantle four-decade Umno political hegemony.

According to Lim, this could be done by ending the ruling Barisan Nasional’s unbroken two-thirds parliamentary majority since the country’s independence.

“Umno political hegemony has marginalised not only whole communities of ordinary Malaysians, but even the other BN component parties as illustrated by the ordeal of the Gerakan Wanita chief, Tan Lian Hoe, being kicked around like a football - Bukit Gantang, back to Gerakan's Taiping seat, then to Lenggong and now Gerik.”

Ambitious target

ipoh timur lim kit siang and liew mun hon interview The veteran 67-year-old politician is defending his Ipoh Timur parliament seat against new face Liew Mun Hon, 32 ( photo, left ) from BN’s MCA.

The opposition, which currently holds 21 seats, would need to more than triple its haul in order to deny BN two-thirds majority.

It was an ambitious target but Lim felt it could be achieved.

“If DAP, PKR and PAS can each secure 25 parliamentary seats, denying BN of 75 parliamentary seats, then the beginning of the end of the Umno political hegemony threatening democracy, international competitiveness and national unity would have begun.”