Malays capable but held back by culture, says Dr Mahathir

Muzliza Mustafa Muzliza Mustafa Updated 6 years ago · Published on 13 Jan 2018 7:57PM · 6 Comments

Dr Mahathir Mohamad says Malays should heed lessons from the situation in Japan in 1961 when the Japanese people worked hard to build their nation. – EPA pic, January 13, 2018.

MALAYS have the capability to achieve greater heights but are held back by values and culture, says Pakatan Harapan chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“Malays are as capable as other races. The only the problem is the culture and values. We can achieve success with our capability but we are found to be less hardworking, less trustworthy.

“We do not want to do complicated work that is why we are left behind. It is not that we cannot do (the work), it is because we do not want to,” said Dr Mahathir.

He added that Malays also lack commitment in their work but expect a higher salary.

He said Malays should heed lessons from the situation in Japan in 1961, when the Japanese worked hard to build their nation.

“They were paid just with fistfuls of rice and soy sauce at the time, and they were able to make Japan great again after the country was ruined in war. It’s in their culture to work hard and produce great results for others to admire,” said Dr Mahathir.

He said Japanese people would be ashamed to go home if they did less work and were less productive than their peers.

“We are not a developed country yet. So we should work harder.

“Do not expect to succeed when we are not working (as hard). (It is) impossible,” he said during a sharing session.

On what PH would change to the education system should it come into power after the next general election, Dr Mahathir said new syllabus will be added.

“Lessons on culture that can produce success. In Al Quran, Islam is not just a religion. Its a way of life.

“If PH wins, I will hold the education minister by the neck and tell him to insert another syllabus on culture and values,” he said.

The Vision 2020 forum in Cyberjaya is one of many series of talks that will be held by PH leading to general election.

The talks will also be held in Kedah, Johor and Perak. – January 13, 2018.

Sign up or sign in here to comment.

Comments

  • Its NOT the Malay culture! ...... its the entitlement culture (read NEP) !!! ...... why work hard when one can have a good life without doing so?? ..... the same situation happened among the elite and selected citizens in the Middle East .....

    Posted 6 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

  • " ..... lessons from the situation in Japan in 1961 ..... were paid just with fistfuls of rice and soy sauce at the time....." - ..... (relatively, Malaysia was more prosperous in 1961)...... compare them now to Malaysia ..... how far we had fallen ..... and its all due to the BN administration ..... and you!!

    Posted 6 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

  • I strongly disagree with Tun Mahatir. There is nothing wrong with our Malay culture. Most Malay are honest, humble, friendly and willing to work hard. But Mahatir (with his chief attack dog - anwar ibrahim) introduced divisive politic - encouraging hatred & religious bigotry. Mahatir fed Malay cheap dedak and this race is addicted to it. Dedak makes them lazy, waiting for hand-outs, poor and unable to think. Many Malay are now top businessman, corporate leaders, academic, professionals etc. Fortunately they stop eating dedak from Mahatir and UMNO. Stop talking down Malay and culture. All races are good and all politicians are degenerate.

    Posted 6 years ago by Chris Ng · Reply

  • Mahathir is incorrect to say that Malays are held back by Malay culture. They are held back, if that is the correct term to describe them depending on handouts, by UMNO culture. Tun Razak said that NEP should end after 20 years when Malays attained 30% of economic participation to be measured by Malays ownership of equity share capital. That quantum of 30% should be based on the total amount of share capital measured in 1970 when NEP began. But the government chose to make it a moving target, and have it based on the current year. While the government injects vast investment to boast the total share capital in the country, it does not add the shares owned by Malays according Malays' share of equity capital (based on Malays population share) in the numerator and hence the percentage increase. Thus, the more the government invests in GLC, the less would be Malays' share of equity capital, percentagewise. Hence, the 30% target would never be achieved.

    Malaysia has gained independence for 60 years now. The rationale for article 153 was not racist in nature; it was meant to provide handicap like in a golf game. A child born in 1957 has 60 years to enjoy the privilege, and his children and grandchildren have also been receiving assistance not available to the non-privilege class. The desire to have this privilege continued is not due to Malay culture; it is due to UMNO culture. The politicians want this to continue to have fixed deposit of sure win constituency. The beneficiaries are happy to have preference advantages.

    Mahathir is barking up the wrong tree talking about Malay culture. Had he been honest to his intelligence, he should have stopped NEP in 1990, and we will be as advanced as Japan today.

    Posted 6 years ago by Meng Kow Loh · Reply

  • Malaysia is backward not because of the Malay culture. Clearly it is because of the BN culture. It is time BN must go.

    Posted 6 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • The Malays are brainwashed by Umno for more then 60 years. Umno is no longer valid. Umno have failed today. Umno is money oriented and never serve the Malays humbly. Ketuanan Melayu is the mental block. Melayu will disapperar if Melayu dont change. Dare to do change rather then wait another 60 years.

    Posted 6 years ago by Anak Malaysia · Reply