mslee
2004-08-30 03:02:12 UTC
2004 National Day Message by Parliamentary Opposition Leader, DAP
National Chairman and MP for Ipoh Timur, Lim Kit Siang, on Monday,
30th August 2004;
Burst of "Malaysia Boleh" bubble and failure to win a single Olympics
medal in Athens should be point of reflection on the need to channel
"Malaysia Boleh" spirit to more meaningful, substantive and purposeful
directions like world-class sportsmen and women, world-class
universities, world-class police force, world-class civil service and
among world's least corrupt nations
======================================
If Malaysia had won a gold, silver or bronze medal at the Athens
Olympics, this will be the staple mention in most National Day
messages.
There is no reason why Malaysia's failure to win a single medal in the
Olympic Games should not be the focus of national attention on the
occasion of our 47th National Day celebrations, as patriotism and
nationalism must mean the capability and preparedness to take on
both the good and the bad, the high and the low points of a people
and country.
The bursting of the "Malaysia Boleh" bubble in the Athens Olympics
should be a salutary point of reflection for all Malaysians on the
need to channel the "Malaysia Boleh" spirit to more meaningful,
substantive and purposeful directions and measures, such as producing
world-class sportsmen and women, world-class universities, world-class
police force, world-class civil service, among the world's least
corrupt nations instead of having the tallest, longest or biggest
infrastructure or object in the world.
The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the
Malaysian Olympics athletes have let the country down. He is right -
but not fully. The government had also let the athletes and the
country down!
Malaysia has not just stagnated but regressed. Four years ago in
Sydney Olympics, badminton gave Malaysia a silver and a bronze medal,
while in 1992 in Barcelona, the doubles pairing of Razif and Jailaini
Sidek won the bronze.
There was a time when the Malaysian government even entertained the
notion of bidding to be host of Olympics Games, when the first
Olympics priority for Malaysia is to position Malaysians among the
regular medalists, including gold, in every Olympics.
The 47th National Day will be really significant if a new "Malaysia
Boleh" spirit is fired up to place Malaysia among the rank of world
achievers in substantive, meaningful and purposeful pursuits which
bring true credit and glory to the nation and people.
- Lim Kit Siang
- http://dapmalaysia.org
- http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/3939
- Mailing List: Send request to
<bungaraya-***@listserv.net-gw.com>
National Chairman and MP for Ipoh Timur, Lim Kit Siang, on Monday,
30th August 2004;
Burst of "Malaysia Boleh" bubble and failure to win a single Olympics
medal in Athens should be point of reflection on the need to channel
"Malaysia Boleh" spirit to more meaningful, substantive and purposeful
directions like world-class sportsmen and women, world-class
universities, world-class police force, world-class civil service and
among world's least corrupt nations
======================================
If Malaysia had won a gold, silver or bronze medal at the Athens
Olympics, this will be the staple mention in most National Day
messages.
There is no reason why Malaysia's failure to win a single medal in the
Olympic Games should not be the focus of national attention on the
occasion of our 47th National Day celebrations, as patriotism and
nationalism must mean the capability and preparedness to take on
both the good and the bad, the high and the low points of a people
and country.
The bursting of the "Malaysia Boleh" bubble in the Athens Olympics
should be a salutary point of reflection for all Malaysians on the
need to channel the "Malaysia Boleh" spirit to more meaningful,
substantive and purposeful directions and measures, such as producing
world-class sportsmen and women, world-class universities, world-class
police force, world-class civil service, among the world's least
corrupt nations instead of having the tallest, longest or biggest
infrastructure or object in the world.
The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said the
Malaysian Olympics athletes have let the country down. He is right -
but not fully. The government had also let the athletes and the
country down!
Malaysia has not just stagnated but regressed. Four years ago in
Sydney Olympics, badminton gave Malaysia a silver and a bronze medal,
while in 1992 in Barcelona, the doubles pairing of Razif and Jailaini
Sidek won the bronze.
There was a time when the Malaysian government even entertained the
notion of bidding to be host of Olympics Games, when the first
Olympics priority for Malaysia is to position Malaysians among the
regular medalists, including gold, in every Olympics.
The 47th National Day will be really significant if a new "Malaysia
Boleh" spirit is fired up to place Malaysia among the rank of world
achievers in substantive, meaningful and purposeful pursuits which
bring true credit and glory to the nation and people.
- Lim Kit Siang
- http://dapmalaysia.org
- http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/3939
- Mailing List: Send request to
<bungaraya-***@listserv.net-gw.com>