LANGKAWI – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he appreciates and values the nation’s independence as he had suffered when the British were in power and during the Japanese occupation.
Most people in Malaysia have never experienced life under foreign rule, said the former prime minister, whereas he has lived under the British and Japanese, as well as the Thais in Kedah.
“Which is why, for me, independence is something that I appreciate more than others do,” said the 96-year-old Pejuang chairman on the significance of Merdeka Day, which falls on Tuesday.
“Those born after independence do not know how it is to be under foreign rule. But I know. This is why I appreciate independence more than anybody else.
“I want to show that an independent Malaysia can do better than when the country was a British colony. In fact, we have done that,” said the Langkawi MP in an interview with The Vibes, during a visit to the island here recently.
Dr Mahathir, who was born and raised in Kedah, was prime minister from 1981 to 2003, and from May 2018 to February 2020.
The Merdeka spirit is a tool to foster unity among the races, he said.
“But, the races must identify themselves completely with this country.
“If you start thinking of the country where you came from, there will be differences, and that is not good for Malaysia.
“We must think that we are Malaysians, and we must stop identifying ourselves as Malay, Malaysian Chinese, Malaysian Indian, or Kadazandusun – we are just Malaysians, and should be identified under one name.”
On the country’s image in the international arena, he said Malaysia was once viewed as a model among nations that gained independence, being administered and developed better than when it was a colony.
“During that period, not only myself, but everybody felt proud of being a Malaysian.
“When they went abroad and people asked them ‘Where do you come from?’, and they answered ‘Malaysia’, they said ‘Oh, Malaysia No. 1’.
“But nowadays, when you mention Malaysia, they say ‘Oh, kleptocracy’.” – The Vibes, August 28, 2021
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