KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 — Many Malaysians have become disappointed and given up hope that democratic change in Malaysia is possible, preferring to leave the country instead as a sign of protest, Lim Kit Siang alleged today.

But the DAP parliamentary leader urged them to resist the temptation, saying a change in federal government is still possible in the next national polls that may be called as early as next year.

"Many Malaysians have become disappointed, disenchanted and given up hope that there is a possibility of democratic change in Malaysia, and have voted with their feet with a surge of migration in the past three years.

"The greatest challenge in Malaysia today is to ensure that Malaysians can hope again that change of Federal Government, which was within a whisker of achievement in the 13GE, is still possible and realizable in the 14th General Election even if it is held in July/August next year,” Lim said in a statement.

Lim, MP for Gelang Patah, claimed racism and communal politics have driven Malaysians out of the country, and left it divided with hatred.

He cited as example the recent remark made by Pahang mufti calling those who support DAP as "kafir harbi”, which Lim said went against the notion of nation-building as espoused by the 1957 Merdeka Constitution and the 1963 Malaysia Agreement.

He accused cybertroopers in Umno, the country’s biggest political party, of sowing hatred and division among Malaysians by splitting citizens into two groups using archaic terms: "kafir harbi” and "kafir zimmi”.

"Such irresponsible tactics reflect on their desperation and not on their confidence that they are the sure winners in the 14th General Election,” Lim said.

The DAP adviser said democratic change depended on Malaysians’ ability to debunk "the lies and falsehoods” as propagated by Umno, and listed as examples the party’s claims that it is the sole champion of Malay interests, and that its defeat would meant the end of Malay rule.

"Then the conditions are there for a change of Federal Government and for Malaysia to become a normal democratic country where the people can change governments without national catastrophes or disasters,” he added.