TWO-TIME former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has always been outspoken and has never been afraid to express his opinions even if they shock people or generate conflicts within or outside of the country.
At 98, the Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister (PM) – a total of 24 years in both stints (from July 1981 to October 2003 and later from May 2018 to March 2020) – the active politician has yet to shed his controversial trademark.
Following his departure from Pejuang which he founded but fared very badly in the recently-concluded 15th General Election (GE15), Dr Mahathir who will soon be helming the Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia (PUTRA) has invited Malays to attend a conference entitled “The Malay Proclamation” this Sunday (March 19) at the Impiana Hotel in Kuala Lumpur.
In his message to fellow Malays, the former Langkawi MP prophesied that if Malays were not the dominant force, they risk “losing autonomy in their own country” hence staring at a bleak future. He went on the offensive, giving the impression that he was willing to be labelled a racist for wanting to help his own race.
“The present government is one of a multi-racial government although it is led by a Malay. Its Malay leadership and Malay participation does not focus on (solving) problems faced by the as so doing will be perceived as a form of racism.”
By insinuating that Malays may lose their ‘power’ in their homeland in the hands of non-Malays may not be the best political narrative at this point in time as this will only resonate with the sentiment raised by the opposition Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition while running foul of the efforts by the unity government to bridge racial divide in Malaysia.
While there is nothing wrong with Dr Mahathir standing up for the rights of the Malays who are of his own flesh and blood, he nevertheless tends to go overboard at times by virtue of making claims that are sensible.
For years on end, it appears as though he is trying to incite fear among the Malays instead of rallying them to the door of progress.
As a highly respected statesman, Dr Mahathir can obviously inspire the Malays to embrace progress without continuing to deploy the same old rhetoric by claiming that his action is meant to “Preserve the Malay race” or “to defend Islam” which can be offensive to both the Malays and non-Malays alike.
Many are furious and are of the opinion that Dr Mahathir is delusional. Who can blame them when he staked a claim that Malay leadership in a multi-racial ambience will not be able to resolve problems encountered by the Malays.
“Henceforth, the time has come for us to reach a determination to defend the continuity of our race and motherland. Everyone is invited to join me (in the journey),” he further penned in his invitational note.
According to netizens in the Twitterverse, Dr Mahathir enjoys using the ‘Malay’ card to gain sympathy despite the fact that this is the same man who condemns his own race for being lazy.
Even though he has opted not to be a candidate again in future elections, he has nevertheless pledged to pour his heart and soul into PUTRA which he has just joined to form an anti-corruption coalition to run in the 16th General Election (GE16) due in five years’ time. It is as good as anybody’s guess nevertheless if PUTRA will be Dr Mahathir’s ‘last political vessel’. – March 16, 2023
