KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad believes that the reason there are still race-based parties in Malaysia is because of individuals who insist on retaining their identification with other countries.
The former prime minister said that these individuals, despite being citizens, insist not only on being recognised as people of different origins from the indigenous people, but are physically separated through their economic functions and political affiliations.
In his blog, chedet.cc, today, he said this is not the case in other multiracial countries.
“Migrants from other countries, upon accepting citizenship, adopt the language, culture and loyalties to their adopted countries completely. They get fully assimilated after one or two generations,” said Dr Mahathir.
He stressed that, as long as the people of Malaysia retain their identification with their countries of origin, politics and political parties in the country will remain racial.
In the same post on his blog, the Pejuang chairman acknowledged that his party is a Malay party and race-based, as it is expected to contest against Umno, the nation’s oldest Malay party.
“Pejuang is also expected to do this in rural areas where the population is largely Malay. These people would not support a multiracial party. In the absence of any other Malay party, the rural people will vote for Umno.
“Besides, Umno is rich and rural Malays are poor. Money means a lot to them,” he said.
Therefore, Dr Mahathir said Pejuang is the alternative for this group of voters.
“There are issues but race and money are more important. Pejuang has no money. It depends on race and its anti-corruption campaign.” – The Vibes, October 6, 2021
