MALAYSIA, not unlike many other Asian nations, had a colonial master in the distant past. This history, although steeped in shame, points towards the base on which we raised our mighty cities.
Are our colonisers enablers or obstacles towards the progress of the people of Tanah Melayu? According to Tun Mahathir, the answer was obvious. In a recent post on X, the centenarian claimed that the colonisers were murderers.
“They wear smart uniforms with medals hanging from their chests. They look great. But they were the killers, killing people in wars,” said Tun.
Tun added that these people razed to the ground whole cities, and for all these, were rewarded with the title of heroes. Tun ended his post on this chilling note, “This is modern civilisation. They literally dress to kill.”
The photo accompanying his post showed a statue of Admiral Horatio Nelson which sits atop Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square, London.
Built between 1840 and 1843, the monument commemorates Nelson’s fatal victory at the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar.
𝗠𝗢𝗗𝗘𝗥𝗡 𝗖𝗜𝗩𝗜𝗟𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡
1. They wear smart uniforms with medals hanging from their chests. They look great. But they were the killers, killing people in wars.
2. Then they blew up the great buildings they had built reducing them to rubble.
3. They razed to the… pic.twitter.com/k4ogbQhEnJ
— Dr Mahathir Mohamad (@chedetofficial) July 28, 2026
Safe to say, Tun’s post has since turned into a forum-of-sorts debating about the colonisers and their role in the past.
“Not just the medal and uniform. That pirate hat is the actual symbol of their civilization. This modern civilization is literally built by sea pirates who used to speak Portuguese, Spanish, French and English,” said netizen @RayikBari in the comment section.
“True Tun. Just like what the Mughals did in India. Razing down great temples and libraries and burning down cities and killing millions in the name of religion. Devils do come in disguise,” pointed out @RameshWP.
Then there was @Geckoandfly, believing that all humans have the tendency for cruelty.
“Don’t forget that they tried to bring “civilization” to the “uncivilized” despite said “uncivilized” people have pots older than their nation,” added @SalamiFrozen.
However, @hopemeng7_my thinks the British have redeeming qualities.
Where Tun’s posts are concerned, expect a few haters to show up too.
“Hi Tun M, how’s your billionaire son doing?” said @Jake_J88 while @naughtykid001 pointed out that Tun only managed to enrich himself.
Here is also an ambiguous photo comment for readers to interpret:
At least @samsonalghazi still believes Tun is doing a service for the nation with his posting.
Whether one agrees with Tun or not, his post has reminded Malaysians that history is not merely a collection of dates and monuments.
It is a battleground of memories and perspectives. The question is no longer whether colonial powers committed atrocities.
History has documented many of them. The real debate lies in how societies choose to remember that legacy and what lessons they carry forward.—July 29, 2026
Main image: aa.com
