KUALA LUMPUR – Caught in a maelstrom after his “disloyal Indians and Chinese” remarks, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has issued a “whataboutism” over the existence of race-based parties in Malaysia.
“Those who have been criticising me and talking about multiracialism should also ask why there are race-based political parties in the country.
“Why isn’t there just a Malaysian party? There are parties that claim they are multiracial, but their former leader says it is a fake multiracial party,” he said on X today, without naming names.
He also wants to meet Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang – who had condemned recent remarks made by the former prime minister during an interview with a South Indian satellite TV channel.
“I’m ready to meet minister Aaron Ago Dagang as he suggested. I hope he shows,” said Dr Mahathir.
Dr Mahathir in an interview with Thanthi TV had not only referred to Malaysian Indians and Chinese as immigrants, but also said they should not call themselves Malaysians unless they identified as Malays.
He also said Malaysian Indians did not speak Malay as their mother tongue, and did not practise Malay culture, customs or traditions, and thus should not refer to Malaysia as their home country.
The two-time prime minister considered it a “problem” when “immigrants” (Indians and Chinese) claimed the country as their own while practising their own cultures and customs.
Dr Mahathir, who is not a stranger to making controversial remarks, has been slammed by many politicians, including Charles Santiago, P. Ramasamy and M. Kulasegaran, among others. – January 17, 2024