FORMER prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad launched a broadside against UMNO president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi for questioning the former’s ancestry…back in 2017!
Taking to social media, Mahathir challenged Zahid to prove that he was not Malay or risk having a civil suit filed against him.
“He alleged that I was of Indian ancestry and had mislead the Malays for 22 years while serving as prime minister. I’m still waiting for Zahid to prove his claims.
“Zahid just wants to smear my name, claiming that I had cheated the people about my racial background.
“He wants to question my standing in leading UMNO, other Malay parties and the community as whole,” said an irate Mahathir.
In July 2017, Zahid told an UMNO crowd that Mahathir had been riding on the Malays for 22 years while in reality, being an Indian.
He also held up his phone and showed Mahathir purported blue IC, showing his name depicted as “Mahathir a/l Iskandar Kutty”. Zahid was then serving as deputy prime minister cum home minister.
In April this year, Zahid filed a suit against Mahathir for defamation after the latter alleged that the former had come to his home with two or three others just after the 14th General Election, to seek his help to stop the ongoing investigation against the UMNO supremo.
Zahid a compulsive liar
Hurling brickbats at Zahid, Mahathir accused him of being a compulsive liar and he was getting tired of entertaining his antics.
He also claimed that Zahid filed the defamation suit against him in attempt to cover up his transgressions.
Back to his racial identity, Mahathir said that under Article 160 of the Federal Constitution, he is a Malay and would always prioritise the community’s wellbeing.
“I do have Indian blood inside me and I have stated it clearly in my book. I have never denied it but both my birth certificate and IC indicated my name as Mahathir bin Mohamad.
“My parents were born in Malaya as Muslims. Since young, we speak Malay at home and we practise Malay culture.
“Honestly speaking, I don’t really like filing civil suit for defamation because I understand sometimes people cross the limits during political campaigns.
“But I have no choice but to act now as Zahid is despicable and cannot be let off the hook. Not only it’s damaging my reputation but his lies are getting too dangerous for UMNO and the Malays,” the Langkawi MP remarked. – May 17, 2022
