KUALA LUMPUR, June 3 ― Malaysians should accept Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz’s call for “ketuanan Malaysia” as it advocates the inclusive ideals conceived by the country’s founders, DAP’s Lim Kit Siang said today.

The Iskandar Puteri MP said the “ketuanan Malaysia” or Malaysian supremacy concept was the original principle on which the country was founded after independence in 1957, but which had been diverted by Umno with its “ketuanan Melayu” push.

“We want to build a New Malaysia which is united, democratic, just and progressive, and this is where Rafidah’s call for a more inclusive concept of ‘ketuanan Malaysia’ is most pertinent and relevant.

“For a thriving democracy, we must operate in a new political environment and culture where checks and balances are institutionalised in our system of governance,” he said in a statement.

He said the “ketuanan Malaysia” concept promotes the democratic processes and ensures the ruling coalition will not take a tit-for-tat approach and “persecute” the new Opposition, as the defeated Barisan Nasional had done during its decades in government.

“In five years’ time, Pakatan Harapan will have to seek a new mandate from the voters ― a reminder that time is short for PH national and state governments to prove themselves that we deserve a new mandate in five years’ time and not just to be a one-term national or state government,” he added.

Rafidah mooted the concept of Malaysian supremacy to replace Malay supremacy during an interview with news portal Malaysiakini published yesterday, saying it was relevant to the country’s current social climate.