Mahathir, the troublemaking, troublesome ‘Malay’ politician!

Dr Mahathir Mohamad is at it again: stirring up inter-ethnic strife and discord!

Without vilifying the ethnic minorities, he has no other card to play. He must falsely portray the minorities as a threat to ethnic Malay progress and wealth. Without shame, he lies through his teeth!

When you make a statement, it must be supported by evidence. Only then will it enjoy credibility. But Mahathir makes sweeping statements without any evidence to support his claim.

His atrocious claim that the minorities want to “change the name and ownership” of Malaysia is nothing but a cock-and-bull story. Tell it to the marines – not to Malaysians! They can see through you.

Let me ask Mahathir, who are these minorities wanting to change the name and ownership of Malaysia? When were these attempts made? Who are the leaders of this movement? Have you made a police report against these individuals?

“How arrogant are those who come here, whom we have made into citizens, to demand that the name of our country be changed, turned into a multi-racial country?” Mahathir claimed.

We have not heard of anyone ever wanting to change the name of the country, neither was this move reported anywhere. If indeed there was a call for a change of name for Malaysia, it would have stood as a mark of lunatic courage, given the then draconian and infamous Internal Security Act in operation.

Such a call, if ever made, would have been explosive news that would have hogged news headlines around the world. But there was none. There is only one conclusion – some fictitious people must have somehow whispered into Mahathir’s ears! There is no other explanation!

Malaysia is already a multi-racial country, whether we like it or not. There is no need for anyone to take steps to turn this country into a multi-racial country. We have evolved into one from the time of our Independence in 1957. This is something that cannot be changed or denied. It is a fait accompli. Malaysia is truly a multi-racial country – it is an established fact!

You cannot reverse history. The nature and character of this nation reflects the multi-racial make-up of this great country. No law can nullify or erase this fact. Mahathir, you have to live with this fact, whether you accept it or not! You belong to a multi-racial Malaysia, whether you like it or not!

“Many people migrate from one country to another. When they (migrate), they accept that country and its owners, and they adapt their lives to be like the locals (but not those who came here),” Mahathir said.

Mahathir is totally ignorant of what is happening elsewhere. Take the US, Europe and Australia, for example. Certain immigrants in these countries clamour for their way of life in their adopted countries. They want their religious laws implemented in the country of their adoption. They want certain beaches for their exclusive use. They take over certain roads on Fridays to pray, causing traffic chaos.

This doesn’t happen in Malaysia. The minorities do not disrupt traffic flow regularly and are mindful of the fact that there are proper designated places of worship.

Article 8 of the Federal Constitution was mutually agreed upon between the Malays and the other ethnic groups. Article 8 confers equality in clear terms: 8(1) All persons are equal before the law and entitled to the equal protection of the law.

Does Mahathir dispute this provision in the Federal Constitution?

According to Mahathir, the “Malay people’s proclamation” that he heads was not against the minorities, but only focused on fighting for the wellbeing of the Malay community who are struggling financially.

Why are they struggling financially? Haven’t some Malay leaders been screaming for decades that you are here to defend the Malays and tackle their abject poverty? This has been your battle cry for over 60 years. What have you achieved to get rid of poverty among the rural Malays? This is not a new question – I raised it 13 years ago! Nothing has changed and nobody has clarified it thus far.

Mahathir, you had all the power in your hands. You controlled Parliament to pass laws to assist the rural folks, and the purse strings of the nation were at your disposal. What happened? Why did you fail? Is it because you didn’t know your priorities or were unable to govern the country wisely?

You have been an utter failure in raising the livelihood of the poor Malays or in erasing their poverty. You have lost your right to speak up for the rural Malays after your glaring failure to lift up these poor people from the pit of poverty.

You claim the Malays are the owners of this country. If the Malays are the owners of Malaysia – and not all Malaysians – tell us why the rural Malays are abjectly poor? Since they have the ownership, why haven’t they benefited from it? Who has been stealing their wealth? It looks as if they have been sucked dry!

Mahathir rants: “Just like in Singapore, they used English as a medium in schools. If you ask the Malay Singaporeans, they won’t know how to reply in Malay. That is a threat to Malays in this country.”

Obviously, Mahathir does not know the education policy of Singapore. It is true the medium of instruction in schools is English, but it is compulsory for Singaporeans to take a mother tongue language (MTL) as a subject: the ethnic Chinese learn Mandarin, the ethnic Indians take Tamil and the Malays must learn Malay. The MTL policy is never neglected but compulsorily implemented. So can Mahathir, in all honesty, claim that the Malays in Singapore “won’t know how to reply in Malay”?

On what basis does Mahathir claim, “The Malays’ rights are half-gone. If every race in Malaysia will have the same rights as the Malays, we are doomed.” In what ways have the “Malays’ rights (been) half gone”? Tell us exactly what rights the Malays have foregone? Is it a fact or a figment of your politically fertile imagination?

Another absurd claim: “If every race in Malaysia will have the same rights as the Malays, we are doomed.”

So far, the minorities do not have the same rights as the Malays. Under the circumstance, what rights have the Malays gained and in what ways have they lost their rights so far? They shouldn’t feel deprived; they are not at a disadvantage.

Are they doomed, Mahathir?

Another ludicrous claim is if the “Malaysian Malaysia” cry is in place, the Malay language will no longer have its speakers.

“Malaysian Malaysia” has long ceased to be a rallying crying for many decades. We no longer hear this. It has been buried in the sands of time and has not resurfaced for over half a century. Why does Mahathir refer to this? It is a political anachronism.

Up to now, Mahathir has been lying! Up to now, we have been tackling his lies and rebutting his wild claims,

Now, let’s take a look at the truth he was speaking of. We have no quarrel with this.

The former prime minister said that taxpayers’ money will be missing if Umno controls the whole government.

We are not disputing this fact. It is a well-known fact!

He continued with his truth: “Umno has always been a party of corruption.”

We agree with you 100%! Fortunately, this never came under the Official Secrets Act (OSA)! Otherwise, it would be criminal to expose this corruption. Luckily, it is an open secret.

He revealed further: “Umno’s plan to win voters has always been centred around money politics.”

It has always been a wonder how come the Election Commission never went after Umno!

We will go along with his assertion that “the Malays will be doomed if Umno takes over the government. The party has always been corrupt.” True, we are in total agreement with him: Umno has always been corrupt!

During the last 60 years of Umno rule, the fate of rural Malays did not change, but the elite and cronies got richer than ever because Umno was in power. It is in the nature of many of them to sapu (sweep) everything available and keep the Malays poor and dependent on Umno. In this way, they continue to serve as Umno’s vote bank.

We are not surprised that Mahathir speaks with such authority and knowledge that Umno has always been a party of corruption and that the party’s plan to win voters “has always been centred around money politics”.

Mahathir knows Umno in and out. After all, he was the longest serving Umno president, having held that position for over 20 years.

It is common knowledge that corruption flourished during his reign. When he says that Umno is a corrupt party, he is not condemning it but confirming it as a fact. No one knows Umno better than Mahathir!

There is much truth in the saying: “The only thing worse than a liar is a liar that’s also a hypocrite!” – Tennessee Williams

“Hypocrisy is the mother of all evil and racial prejudice is still her favourite child.” – Don King

The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

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