On This Hari Raya Let Us Resolve To Protect And Defend The Constitution

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MP SPEAKS | This year's Hari Raya Aidilfitri will be celebrated under unprecedented conditions where there is no “balik kampung”, the prime minister in quarantine and Malaysians learning to live with the Covid-19 virus through new norms like social distancing and movement controls
The Covid-19 pandemic knows no distinctions, whether race, religion, colour or nationality
All the great religions of the world are represented in the world’s top 20 countries in terms of the cumulative total of Covid-19 confirmed cases
Malaysians are thankful that we have moved out of this category, as we were ranked l8 on March 18 when the MCO was imposed but we are now in the 56th position with 7,137 cases and 115 deaths
The daily increase of Covid-19 infections have been in double-digit figures for the past 17 days, and I am looking forward to the day when there is no daily increase of Covid-19 cases and no Covid-19 death

As we celebrate this Muslim festivity in muted conditions, let us begin to learn the new norms we have to live in a coronavirus world. It might take two to five years until an effective vaccine is developed and widely available
But while we learn the new norms in a coronavirus world, let us not forget the old verities, and a very important one is for all Malaysians to resolve to preserve, protect and defend the Malaysian Constitution as the basis to take the country to greater heights
Let us also resolve not to permit the Covid-19 pandemic to break the Malaysian spirit or nation or to put the clock back to allow abuses of power, rampant corruption, a revival of kleptocracy or widespread violation of human rights
Malaysians must also not forget the eternal truths about integrity, justice, love, compassion and mercy
Malaysians must continue to celebrate that the diverse races, religions and regions which have come together to build a new Malaysian nation and civilization should as founding prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman had said “a beacon of light in a disturbed and distracted world” on the day this nation was founded 63 years ago
As the Yang di-Pertuan Agong said in his royal address to Parliament on Monday, let us set forth, whatever the challenges and vicissitudes before us, to take Malaysia to greater heights
Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Maaf, zahir dan batin
LIM KIT SIANG is the Member of Parliament for Iskandar Puteri. - Mkini

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