KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s position as the adviser for state administrations under Perikatan Nasional (PN) remains, despite top coalition leaders disagreeing with his claim that non-Malays are “disloyal” to the nation.
Gerakan president Dominic Lau said when he raised the issue of Dr Mahathir’s remarks during a PN Supreme Council meeting last night, leaders present had agreed with his objection to the former two-time prime minister’s claims.
“During the (PN) supreme council meeting, I brought up how Gerakan cannot accept what Dr Mahathir said. We were very disappointed and dissatisfied over him questioning the loyalty of non-Malays.
“In fact, (PN chairman) Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin himself said Dr Mahathir’s statement was inappropriate,” Lau said during a press conference at the party’s headquarters, here, today.
When questioned on whether the coalition’s disagreement with Dr Mahathir’s remarks would affect his role as its adviser, Lau said the matter was not discussed as it is a “different issue”.
Lau added that the reason why Dr Mahathir had issued such comments could be attributed to his old age
“Since he is old, maybe that’s why he is saying things that people don’t really agree with.”
Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir told the media after an event today that he will hold a special press conference next Monday, supposedly to address the nation’s political situation and graft investigations against his eldest son, Mirzan Mahathir.
In September last year, Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar announced that Dr Mahathir, who turns 99 this year, will act as an unofficial adviser for a grouping of the four state governments under PN known as the State Government Four (SG4).
Previously, Dr Mahathir’s controversial assertions on the apparent lack of patriotic values in non-Malays were aired in an interview with Chennai-based Thanthi TV, drawing criticism from various quarters, including ministers, political figures, and the general public.
During the interview, the former prime minister referred to Malaysian Indians and Chinese as “immigrants”, saying that they should not identify as Malaysians unless they are recognised as Malays.
He argued that since Malaysian Indians did not speak Malay as their mother tongue or practise Malay culture, customs, or traditions, they should not refer to Malaysia as their home country. – January 20, 2024