LETTER | Mahathir is still living in the colonial era

LETTER | After causing a public uproar through his remark that the Chinese and Indians are disloyal to Malaysia, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had asked his critics to question the existence of race-based political parties in the country.

By citing examples like the United States, he said a true multiracial country should not have race-based political parties. Malaysia, which has tonnes of such parties, is therefore not a multiracial country.

Mahathir is surely desperate for public attention and political relevance since he lost his deposit in the 15th general election.

However, his recent statements show that he is not only desperate but also delusional.

A multiracial country means a country with multiple races. It is quite clear that Malaysia is formed by people of more than one race.

Failing to realise this basic fact, Mahathir is issuing delusional statements to sustain his dangerous vision of assimilating the minorities to make Malaysia a monoethnic country.

In a democracy, all cultures must be allowed to freely develop and evolve and its people reserve the rights to practise them at their own will. Refusing to acknowledge this fundamental principle is a form of denial that Malaysia is indeed a democratic nation.

It is quite disappointing as Mahathir had helmed the top position of the country for more than two decades via democratic means, but refused to acknowledge even the simplest democratic principle that guarantees freedom.

His question on the existence of race-based political parties in Malaysia is legitimate but his answer to it makes it look like he is still living in the British colonial era.

Anyone with some sort of knowledge of history would know that race-based political parties are a product of the British’s divide and rule policy.

Our ancestors found it hard and worried about connecting with other races, therefore, they formed race-based political parties to unite the voice of their own group.

However, in the fight for independence, the three major races of this land reached a consensus that they could live harmoniously together.

Technically, the race-based divide and rule never once faded out from Malaysia even after independence because the race-based political parties always capitalised on racial tensions to fulfil their political interests.

Perpetuating divide and rule

When one race is against another race, the possibility of them voting for a certain party increases significantly.

Though Mahathir may not be the initiator of this, he is definitely part of the players who intensified such a rule.

Even during the 14th general election, which most people deemed as the victory of open-minded Malaysians, Mahathir’s primary role in the then-Pakatan Harapan coalition was to attract the Malay votes that the other component parties failed to obtain.

The concept of race still applies in this historically significant election.

After his fall in 2020, he formed and joined various political parties, all advocating on a racial line. Now, he is not even hesitating to openly admit that assimilation was his intention all this time.

Here is a question for all Malaysians, though. Are we going to let a delusional and desperate individual decide the future of our beloved nation?

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.