///Former PM Mahathir Mohamad blames Singapore’s People’s Action Party and its founder Lee Kuan Yew as the root cause of racialism in Malaysia.///– Malaysiakini

Mamakthir holds the view that the person who wants to end racism is racist. Now Mamakthir uses it to accuse PAP which wanted Malaysian Malaysia, that is Malaysia is for all Malaysians without racial bias as creating racism. Mamakthir’s grey matter must have turned black and hardened.

Mahathir’s words

MALAYSIA ACCORDING TO LKY
By Dr. Mahathir Mohamad on September 14, 2010 6:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (36) | TrackBacks (0)

///1. Mr Lee Kwan Yew, the Minister Mentor of Singapore is three years my senior. That means he and I practically grew up in the same period of time. That also means that I have been able to watch the progress of Mr Lee, and in fact to interact with him on various occasions.///–Mahathir

Yes, only up to 1965 when Singapore left Malaysia. Since then Mahathir had nobody in Malaysia to stop his racial opportunistic ventures.

///2. His assertion in his interview with the New York Times that “Race relations (would be) better if Singapore (had) not (been) “turfed out” (of Malaysia) is worth studying. Is it true or is it fantasy?///– Mahathir

Mahathir should take a poll of people around the world to confirm that LKY was correct. Mahathir hopes that it was fantasy though he tried hard to belittle Singapore just so that his failure in ruling Malaysia for two decades making this a failed state would find no convenient comparison. Racism in Malaysia came out of corruption, which allows racial opportunist to keep voters separate so that politicians in power could plunder the state and yet get re-elected term after term. LKY practised zero tolerance to corruption. Without corruption Mamahthir could not have remained longer than a term. LKY is correct and there are good reasons for him saying so.

///3. Before Singapore joined the Peninsular, Sabah and Sarawak to form Malaysia, there was less racial politics in the Federation of Malaysia. In 1955 the Malays who made up 80 per cent of the citizens gave a large number of their constituencies to the few Chinese and Indian citizens and ensured they won with strong Malay support. As a result the Alliance won 51 of the 52 seats contested.///–Mahathir

Around 1955 the population in Malaya was around a 45-45-10 split of the three races. They were all the British subjects whether or not they obtained certificate of citizenship. The citizenship issue came around when leaders of the three main races decided to seek independence from the British. They settled the issue of citizenship and also the need to help Malays as prescribed under article 53 of the constitution. That provision was to be reviewed after 15 years. That figure of 80% is fictitious.

///4. The Tunku then rewarded this willingness of the Chinese and Indian citizens to support the coalition concept by giving them one million unconditional citizenship. This reduced Malay majority to 60 per cent.///– Mahathir

That was not a gift. It was part of an agreement for joint venture. The number of Malays was no reduced, as the number 60% is used to compare with the fictitious 80% stated earlier. Tunku did not play racial politics and he would have his administration judged by voters, and he considered all Malayans equal citizens. Had racial opportunist Mahathir had a role to seek independence, Malaya would still be a British colony. He could certainly keep his fictitious 80% so-called citizenship share. But then if not for independence and article 160 in the constitution Mahathir would still be Indian, or Malayiali of Kerela.

///5. In the 1959 elections the Alliance of UMNO, MCA and MIC won easily though Kelantan was lost. PAS with only Malays as members was rejected. Racialism even when implied failed.///– Mahathir

Strangely Mahathir accepted that PAS was a racist party but not UMNO. Was it because UMNO accepted him, a person with two spoonfuls of Pakistani blood, into the party and so is not racist? But then Mamathir claims to be Malay and so UMNO comprises only Malays. Why is not racism implied for UMNO?

///6. In 1963 Singapore became a part of Malaysia. Despite having promised that the PAP will not participate in Peninsular, Sabah and Sarawak politics, Kwan Yew reneged and the PAP tried to displace the MCA in the Alliance by appealing to Chinese sentiments in the Peninsular. Of course the slogan was “Malaysian Malaysia” which implied that the Chinese were not having equal rights with the Malays. If this appeal to Chinese sentiments against the Malays was not racial, I do not know what is racial.///–Mahathir

The different independent states, Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak joined hand to form Malaysia on 16 September 1963. All citizens of these independent states before and after have their right to participate in election in the new country. It was political agreement among political parties how they want to participate in the general election, and the party leaders themselves decided whether there were conditions which necessitated changes. It is certainly not for Mahathir to comment on what supposed was the understanding between Tunku and LKY. Besides, judging by how Tunku felt about Mahathir, the latter could never be taken into confidence by Tunku.

Whether it was Malaysian Malaysia or Singaporean Singapore, the idea is that the citizens of the respective countries should have equal right. That should be taken for granted for all democracies, and it should imply that the governments concerned respect the rights of its citizens irrespective of back ground. If that statement should imply inequality, then inequality actually existed. A call to stop discrimination or inequality based on race is certainly not racist. Mahathir advocates that anybody tries to stop racist discrimination is racist. He pretends not to know what is racial. He is racial in all his approaches and he needs no explanation. Mahathir needs only to look into the mirror and he see racial opportunist.

///7. But the Peninsular Chinese favoured working with the Malays in UMNO. They totally rejected PAP in 1964.///– Mahathir

That claim has no basis. PAP did have Devan Nair win in Bangsar, Selangor, a constituency which was predominantly Chinese. How did Chinese reject PAP by voting PAP?

///8. Following the Malaysian Malaysia campaign a few UMNO leaders tried to rouse Singapore Malay sentiments. There were demonstrations in Singapore where before there were none. Kwan Yew accused Jaafar Albar for instigating the Singapore Malays. Although I never went to Singapore, nor met the Malays there, I was labelled a Malay-ultra by Kwan Yew himself.///– Mahathir

Whether it was following the call Malaysian Malaysia or not, the fact was that UMNO leaders roused Malay sentiments in Singapore. Malaysian Malaysia only called for unity of all races. Mahathir pretended to be national leader and call for the creation of Bangsa Malaysa in 2020. LKY asked that equality to be accorded right then in 1964 without having to be bothered with changing the racial identity of Malaysians to become Bangsa Malaysia. Mahathir could only think about bangsa and he pretends not to recognise himself as racial opportunist.

Mahathir’s words inside and outside the parliament were enough for persons to discern that he was an ultra.

///9. By 1965 racism had taken hold and the Tunku was forced to end Singapore’s membership of Malaysia. But the seed of Chinese racialism had been sown, so that even after the PAP left, the “Malaysian Malaysia” war cry was picked up by the DAP, an offspring of the PAP.///– Mahathir

Racism started in Malaysia because of the careless wording used by the framers of the constitution. Article 153 should have been based on needs with the characteristics spelt out to be qualified as beneficiaries. Article 160 made it a loophole for racial opportunist who was willing for forsake their own race to gain advantage on that clause. Thus, the floodgate was opened for more pseudo-Malay to hang on to article 153. That was the reason why project M in Sabah caused Sabahans to be outnumbered by foreigners who self-style as NEWMalays.

///10. With the background of Singapore’s activities in Malaysia in the short three years of its membership, can we really believe that if it had not been “turfed out” race relations would be better in Malaysia?

Congenital racism would have been doused in the country where people of different races take to eating one another’s food. Racism is now a play utilised by politicians to gain position in race-based political parties. That play is encouraged by the prize in obtaining political power fuelled by corruption. Racism would soon die if the government practises zero tolerance to corruption. Had Singapore stayed, and Mahathir not made Minister by Razak, there would be no institutionalized corruption with impunity and racism would have ended. With that race relations in the country would certainly be better.

///11. But proof of what would have happened was shown by the politics leading up to the 1969 Election. The MCA began to criticise the Sino/Malay cooperation especially on so-called special rights and demanded for a Chinese University. UMNO then began to clamour for a greater share of the economy of the country. The UMNO/MCA conflict resulted in the Alliance faring very badly in the 1969 Elections.///– Mahathir

What was wrong in setting up a Chinese University if the government was not asked to foot the bill? The people in 1969 knew that education was the way to improve the status of life. The issue of special position was included in the constitution and it was scheduled for review in 1972. What was wrong for political parties to call for support to take part in that review? Nobody denied Malays for a greater share of economy. Only the racist thought that the Chinese stood in their way.

///12. DAP and Gerakan, a new party largely made up of MCA dissidents made gains. The Alliance were shocked and rattled.///– Mahathir

Gerakan was a multiracial party headed by Syed Hussein Alatas. It was not a party of ex-MCA members.

///13. Then the Gerakan and DAP held their victory parade near the Malay settlement of Kampung Baru, hurling racist insults at the Malays. The result was the 13th May race riots.///– Mahathir

Now we hear that May 13 was not because of economic disparity between Malays and other races. Why then was NEP created to stop a repeat of May 13? The government should just charge the persons for insulting others.

///14. Till today the racist slogan “Malaysian Malaysia” is the war-cry of the DAP. Racism in Malaysia is clearly the result of Singapore’s membership of the country for just three years. Can we really believe that if Singapore had not been “turfed out” Malaysia would have no racial problem.///–Mahathir

Without corruption to fuel institutionalized discrimination, there would be no racism.

///15. While Kwan Yew talks about his belief that all ethnic communities should free themselves from the shackles of racial segregation in order to promote fairness and equality among the races, he also said that “once we are by ourselves (out of Malaysia) the Chinese become the majority”.///– Mahathir

LKY was only stating statistics. He did not say that because Chinese is the majority, Singapore is Chinese-land. See how hard Mahathir tried to tie racism to LKY. Malaysians should feel shy for having Mahathir as Prime Minister, and more so for 22 years, realising now how low he could sink out of jealousy of the success of his contemporary.

///16. Singapore’s population is made up of 75 per cent Chinese and they own 95 per cent of the economy. It is therefore not a truly multi-racial country but a Chinese country with minority racial groups who are additionally much poorer.///– Mahathir

That 95% was out of thin air. Singapore statistics Department does not conduct the so-called Ownership or Wealth survey to get breakdown by race, like racist Malaysia does.

///17. In Singapore dissent is not allowed, People who contest against the PAP would be hauled up in court for libel and if they win elections would not be allowed to take their places in Parliament. Whereas in Malaysia opposition parties invariably win seats in Parliament and even set up State Governments (today five out of the 13 States are ruled by the opposition parties) the PAP in Singapore has to appoint PAP members to represent the opposition.///– Mahathir

People in Singapore have equal right before the court, quite unlike in Malaysia as revealed by Lingam tapes. When the people have their days in court, and an impartial court, it is not for PAP to disallow dissent. Here in Malaysia ISA is used against political opponents; assent or dissent matters not.

///18. Whether the PAP admits it or not, the party has always been led and dominated by ethnic Chinese and have won elections principally because of Chinese votes. The others are not even icing on the cake.///– Mahathir

Mahathir thought that he did not need Chinese votes in Kota Star during the 1969 election and he lost. He has not learned the lesson and he thought that PAP candidates are as arrogant as he is. PAP certainly did not have policy to favour the section of voters, through bribery, so that they could win. There was no NEP ala Malaysia to make Chinese happy in Singapore, like UMNO does to make Malays happy here.
Does Mahathir have figures to prove that Indians and Malays in Singapore voted for opposition against PAP?

///19. If Singapore is a part of Malaysia the PAP can certainly reproduce the Singapore kind of non-racial politics because together with the Malaysian Chinese, the PAP will ethnically dominate and control Malaysian politics. No dissent would be allowed and certainly no one would dare say anything about who really runs the country.///– Mahathir

PAP government whether in Singapore or Malaysia would still have independent judicial system and the court is free and fair. Corruption in Malaysia will not be at this stage and government institutions are expected to function as they should. UMNO might not be MCA to PAP because leaders other than Mahathir ilk will have taken over.

///20. Amnesia is permissible but trying to claim that it is because Singapore had been “turfed out” for the present racist politics in Malaysia is simply not supported by facts of history.

21. Lee Kwan Yew and I saw the same things and know the reasons why.///–Mahathir

Only the person who could utter “I can’t remember umpteen times in a royal commission of inquiry” would discuss Amnesia. Imagine Mahathir’s defence invoking Amnesia.