Re-ignite the Malaysian Dream, Lim Kit Siang urges Melaka voters

In an open letter to the people of Melaka, Lim said Malaysians should embrace an identity that places nationality above ethnicity, where every citizen regards themselves as Malaysian first before identifying as Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan, Iban or Orang Asli. — Picture By Raymond Manuel

First Published: Wednesday, 11 Nov 2026 5:51 PM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 11 — Veteran DAP leader Lim Kit Siang today called on voters in Melaka to “re-ignite the Malaysian Dream”, describing Transport Minister Anthony Loke's resignation as a starting point for renewed efforts to build a united and world-class Malaysia.

In an open letter to the people of Melaka, Lim said Malaysians should embrace an identity that places nationality above ethnicity, where every citizen regards themselves as Malaysian first before identifying as Malay, Chinese, Indian, Kadazan, Iban or Orang Asli.

He said such a vision would help build a nation that is democratic, prosperous, committed to the rule of law and respectful of human rights.

Lim traced the roots of the “Malaysian Dream” to before independence, citing Chinese educationist Lim Lian Geok's 1956 message to Utusan Melayu on the need to cultivate a Malaysian mindset.

Recalling his political career, Lim said he was fielded by DAP to contest the Bandar Melaka parliamentary seat in 1969, describing the election as a battle for the Malaysian Dream.

He said he had not expected the Alliance coalition, which later became Barisan Nasional, to be defeated during his lifetime, but noted that this eventually happened in 2018, although the change in government lasted only until 2020.

According to Lim, meaningful reforms require sustained political commitment over one or two full terms in office, particularly with leaders from the country's largest community taking the lead in driving change.

While acknowledging that some reforms had been implemented, he said they did not go far enough, resulting in growing public disappointment.

Nevertheless, Lim urged Malaysians not to abandon the aspirations of the Malaysian Dream.

“I call on the voters of Malacca to represent the Malaysian nation to re-ignite the Malaysian Dream project to make Malaysia a great world-class nation by voting for every DAP and Pakatan Harapan candidate,” he said in the statement.