Dr M the champion of Malay supremacy, says prof in book
Professor James Chin says former PM supports race-based politics and thinks Najib Razak’s 1Malaysia gives false hope to non-Malays of equal treatment.
(Free Malaysia Today) – Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad was a firm supporter of Malay supremacy and thought nothing of racial discrimination levelled against those of other races, said a professor in his latest book.
In the book, ‘Malaysia Post-Mahathir: A Decade of Change?’ Professor James Chin of the University of Tasmania, writes, “For Mahathir, ‘Ketuanan Melayu’ (Malay supremacy) is the cornerstone of Malaysian politics and of political stability in Malaysia.
“In his view, Najib’s 1Malaysia not only undermines Malay supremacy but gives false hope to the non-Malay community that they may get political equality.”
This critique was made in the chapter “Identity Formations in Contemporary Malaysia: Traversing and Transcending Ethnicity.”
The report in The Star Online also said that according to Chin, Mahathir was the country’s biggest “roadblock” in its effort to free itself from an “ethnic-based (and increasingly Islamic-based) political system.”
He added, “Mahathir is one of the strongest supporters of race-based politics in Malaysia and does not see racial discrimination against the non-Malay population as a problem.”
He also said that Mahathir, despite having retired so long ago, still saw himself as the “ultimate arbitrator of Malaysian politics” and that “For him, Malaysia belongs to Umno, an Umno with his imprint.”
