Nazri, Dr M trade ‘racist’ insults

By Sharon Tan, The Edge

Former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad tells Minister in Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz to quit his party as he (Nazri) is against racism while Umno is a racial party.

“Nazri said I am racist. Don’t ever say he is not because he knows everything very well. He belongs to a party and that is a racial party, which is Umno. Umno is a racial party (parti perkauman) and it is meant for Malays only and nobody else can join.

“So he is in a racial party but he said he is against racism. So he should resign from the party,” said Dr Mahathir after delivering the keynote address on Malaysia-Indonesia economic cooperation yesterday.

The elder statesman fired the salvo after Nazri had on Monday described him as a racist over his stand on Biro Tata Negara (National Civics Bureau or BTN).

In a return salvo, Nazri said Dr Mahathir’s statement merely confirmed what he had said.

“That is the most stupid statement that I have heard in my life. It only confirms what I said was right,” said Nazri when met in parliament.

He said the party was already formed when he joined.

“I joined because I wanted to serve the government. I wanted to serve the people and that was the platform prepared for me.

“So, actually when you talk about forming the party, he was involved in forming the party. That is not my problem, that is his problem and I only joined the system as it is.

“I only want to serve the people and the only way I can serve is through this party,” said Nazri.

“I am right in the sense that if Umno is a racial party, he was a president of a racial party so he is a racist-lah,” Nazri added.

Asked on the blackout on his statement on Dr Mahathir in some mainstream media, Nazri said it did not bother him.

“It does not matter to me. I don’t know what the reasons are but to me if Tun Dr Mahathir can make criticisms against the government then he is not immune to criticisms from members of the government,” he added.