Nation’s wealth should be shared with all races, says Dr Mahathir

Alfian Z.M. Tahir Alfian Z.M. Tahir Updated 5 years ago · Published on 14 Jan 2019 10:50AM · 3 Comments

THE nation’s wealth should be distributed equally among all races and not just given to the Malays and Bumiputeras, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today.

Speaking at the Prime Minister’s Department monthly assembly in Putrajaya, Dr Mahathir said a nation cannot claim to be successful if other citizens are left behind.

“There is no use of being a wealthy country if the wealth is not shared or just given to a certain group of people.

“We have to share what we have together as we do not want to be seen as a rich nation but fail to take care of the minorities. We could not claim to be successful if others are still left behind,” he said.

 Nations with obvious gaps between the poor and the rich ended up in riots, he said.

“That’s why we need to focus on tackling social poverty of all races.

“It has become our duty to determine that we distribute the wealth equally or at least to a level accepted by all the communities in the country,” he said.

“It’s no use if equal right is restricted to only voting for a government. If we cannot achieve equality in status, comfort, and peaceful life and prosperity for all races, then we cannot be seen as successful in building the nation.”

This is where the people should learn from history when past leaders decided to share power at Merdeka, he added.

He also gave a history lesson by reminding the vision of a Malaysia once cherished by past leaders – that is to unite every citizen under one race.

However, the idea failed, as not everyone shared the same vision of living under a one-race concept, he said. “We fought for independence against the British more than 60 years ago and when we gained independence, our past leaders agreed to give each and one of us citizenship regardless of where we come from.

“Not just that, political parties agreed to allow each one of us to take part in nation-building. We agreed not to be enemies and become as one.

“That is a history all of us must know and because of the brilliance of our past leaders, we have achieved independence without riot.

“But today, the unity that we hope for have yet to become a reality.”

He said the hope for one race speaking the same language and sharing the same culture did not happen as “everyone wants to preserve his own identity”.

Because of that, we have to accept that we cannot have a one-race nation, Dr Mahathir said.

 Despite the failure, the prime minister praised Malaysians for being able to live harmoniously for half a decade without racial riots.

He added that this was also due to the ability of old leaders who managed to govern the country with wisdom and knowledge.

“We are lucky to achieve independence without ethnic wars unlike other countries in Africa and Myanmar.

“We were in good hands as soon as we were liberated. We were governed by people who had knowledge of how to run a country. These people were trained by the British and the know how to go about it.

“We only had one racial riot back in 1969 and that was the only blot in our history. So, we have to learn from our lessons for us not to repeat the mistake.” – January 14, 2019.

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Comments

  • Walk the talk please Mahatir. Do not speak for publicity. The Malaysian jave no qualm and are speaking and accepting the National Langguage of Bahasa Malaysia as one language of the country. No way in any country in the world has different races accept and wholeheartely blend into others culture. It is impossible to happen. It is the differences in the culture if a country that create the uniqueness of a colourful diversity. Malaysian as awhole has been tolerant except that it is always the politicians and the clerics bigots that are disuniting the races with their insididious and malice attempt in ensuring the majority race still retain their ketuanan and religious might. Stop and apprehend all that nonsensical antics follow by a new sound education system and we shall see a New Malaysian race that is tolerant of one another as a real Malaysian . Infact any man in the streets of all races do not give two hoots about the dominant race position. Times are hard and when any races that fails in the economic well being they will drag the others down as well. So Mahayir please speak with conviction and do it.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • The same tune played again and again and but in the end, Bumis taken care by govt, Chinese worked their way to control business & economy and others marginalised. The 60 yrs BN rule was to b blamed and Tun was one of the architect for the current state of the imbalance....so (1) Bring balanced race mix in govt administration....monopoly contributes to corruption (2) provide equal opportunities and competitive environment in business & economy (3) give priority for merits in education and employment (4) stop influx of foreigners and stop them from running and owning business ( they are robbing Malaysians of their opportunities)....

    Posted 5 years ago by Maniraju Maruthai · Reply

  • TDM rakyat knows which angle u are speaking from 61 years has made us very MATURED . Pls Stop Being Unfair to the Non Malays. U will hv to answer tis to CREATOR . KARMA WILL HIT U HARD IF 22 YRS HISTORY REPEATS.

    Posted 5 years ago by Tharan Singh · Reply