Dr M: Prove Malays ‘grabbed’ non-Malay rights
By G. Manimaran and Debra Chong, The Malaysian Insider
Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has asked for a comprehensive review to answer allegations that the Malays have stolen the country’s wealth and denied the rights of non-Malays.
The former Umno president said the government or any other agency should conduct the review to refute such allegations or perception.
“I ask that if people want to accuse, make accusations that have basis, don’t be unfair,” Dr Mahathir told those attending Malay rights movement Perkasa’s inaugural congress at the Putra World Trade Centre here.
“I am not racist, I love my country, we are not racists … if we cannot be fair to the Malays, then we cannot be fair to other races,” said the country’s longest-serving prime minister from 1981 to 2003.
Repeating more than 10 times in a disappointed tone to “conduct a review, conduct a census”, Dr Mahathir said, “if I am wrong, prove it to me, prove it to others.”
Though his voice remained level, the 84-year-old still managed to stir the crowd into a frenzy when he remarked on how unfair it was for non-Malays to be allowed to call Malays “pendatang (immigrants)” and not vice versa.
