Poorer Indians were overlooked, Dr Mahathir admits

Chan Kok Leong Kamles Kumar Chan Kok Leong, Kamles Kumar Updated 6 years ago · Published on 14 Mar 2018 9:38PM · 6 Comments

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says he was too busy opposing the opposition to listen to the opposition when he was in power, at the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, this evening. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, March 14, 2018.

DR Mahathir Mohamad tonight admitted overlooking the plight of the poorer Indians when he was the prime minister, saying it has festered until now. 

“The country was doing well and the economy was giving people jobs and we thought everyone was happy.

“The opposition had voiced concerns. But when I was in government, I was too busy opposing the opposition to listen. After I stepped down, I hoped the government would be better. But I learnt that it was problematic,” said the 92-year-old in his opening address at the KL Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.

Dr Mahathir said it was not easy to run a multiracial country and one of Malaysia’s achievements was its racial harmony “with no major racial conflicts despite the country’s diversity”.

He said although the Malays were the majority in the country, the government had tried to be fair to everyone.

“But often the Indians felt neglected and thought that most of the attention went to the Malays. I think the indian representatives in government did not really press the issue for Indians,” said the Pakatan Harapan chairman.

He was speaking to an Indian audience which had showed up for “An evening with Dr Mahathir Mohamad”, organised by Hindraf.

Dr Mahathir said he was often blamed for not doing enough for the Indian community during his tenure as prime minister

“But later I found out that MIC had published a book on how much I had contributed to the Indian community,” said Dr Mahathir who was prime minister from 1981-2003.

Hindraf chairman P. Waythamoorthy said it was the Indian grassroots’ wish to see the community truly represented in Pakatan Harapan.

He said in GE13, he had asked Indians to vote for BN but this time, he was asking them to vote PH because BN had not lived up to its promises.

“The prime minister has lied to the people and the Malaysian Indian community. He has betrayed the Indians in Malaysia

“Our mantra now is zero vote for BN,” said Waythamoorthy in his welcoming address.

Waythamoorthy was appointed a deputy minister in Prime Minister’s cabinet in May 2013 but quit eight months later.

The 52-year-old lawyer had said that the Najib administration was “dragging its feet” over its promises to help low-income Indian-Malaysians. – March 14, 2018.

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Comments

  • When the fighting is expected to be fierce, the Indian vote becomes exponentially more valuable...everybody wants a share of it now

    Posted 6 years ago by Nehru Sathiamoorthy · Reply

  • Not enough can be said about the extreme unfairness of a race based affirmative system as compared to a needs based one.

    Posted 6 years ago by Xuz ZG · Reply

    • What can one expect from an ultr@ racist?

      Posted 6 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

  • " ..... I think the indian representatives in government did not really press the issue for Indians, ...' - In other words, are you implying Indians were !@#$ by MIC and Samy Vellu ..... and the Chinese were !@#$ by MCA and Ling Liong Sik .....??

    Posted 6 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

  • Dr.M did not deliberately neglect any community. It could be said that he did not get much help to address outstanding issues as he bulldozed his way opening up the economy for rapid development. There were too many matters he had to address on the national agenda & insufficient..

    Posted 6 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

    • & insufficent time! So people around him had to assist him. Possibly out of great respect and the awe they held him in they were found wanting in push..

      Posted 6 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply