KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has hit back at allegations of racism made by former Penang deputy chief minister P. Ramasamy.
The exchange follows Ramasamy’s assertion that Dr Mahathir was the “prime architect” of divisive racial and religious policies that “kept ethnic groups apart,” prompting the former prime minister to label Ramasamy as racist.
Dr Mahathir pointed out Ramasamy’s recent move to establish the Indian-based United for the Rights of Malaysians Party after leaving the multiracial-based DAP.
He questioned Ramasamy’s credibility, saying: “Ramasamy always accused me of being racist, but when he left the multiracial-based party, he formed an Indian-based party.”
Addressing the issue of cabinet appointments, Dr Mahathir said that non-Indian ministers were equally representatives of Malaysia. He questioned the significance of criticising the government when Indians were not appointed to the cabinet.
“And when Indians did not get a seat in the government cabinet, he criticised the government. If he did not prioritise Indians, so what is the matter with no Indians in the cabinet?
“Non-Indian ministers are also Malaysia’s ministers. As a Malaysian, there is no issue if Indians are not appointed (to the) cabinet.
Accusing Ramasamy of racial bias, Dr Mahathir asserted: “Ramasamy is racist because he fights not only for Malaysia but also for the Indian race.”
The feud between the two politicians began when Ramasamy challenged Dr Mahathir’s claims regarding the loyalty of Malaysian Indians to the country.
Ramasamy labelled Dr Mahathir a “narrow-minded Malay nationalist” and accused him of implementing divisive policies that kept ethnic groups apart.
During an interview with the Chennai-based satellite television channel Thanthi TV recently, Dr Mahathir said Malaysian Indians should not consider Malaysia their home country unless they identified as Malays.
He also highlighted language differences, stating that Malaysian Indians do not speak Malay as their mother tongue but communicate in Tamil. – January 15, 2024