'Selling nasi lemak, driving Uber' remarks not meant as an insult, says Dr Mahathir

Updated 8 years ago · Published on 22 Jan 2018 1:33PM · 3 Comments

Bersatu chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad speaking at the Bicara Wawasan 2020 forum in Cyberjaya earlier this month. Today, in a Facebook Live session, he says graduates who turn to selling nasi lemak and driving Uber do so not out of choice, but because they are unable to secure employment in their chosen fields. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Nazir Sufari, January 22, 2018.

THERE was no intention of insulting nasi lemak sellers or e-hailing service drivers, said Bersatu chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The 92-year-old said he was merely stating the obvious when he said graduates were turning to such jobs because there was a lack of proper career opportunities.

“This is not a question of insulting anyone.

“There are those who sell nasi lemak because that is how they support themselves. And, there are those who are forced to drive Uber as they have no choice,” said Dr Mahathir during a Facebook Live session at his office at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya today.

He was asked to respond to attacks against him for “insulting” nasi lemak sellers and Uber drivers.

“It’s a waste if we give them skills in one profession, but they are forced to work in another because there are no jobs in that profession.

“Hence, they are forced to sell nasi lemak and drive Uber.

“But because there are no opportunities due to the government’s economic policies, they are forced to make a living selling nasi lemak or driving Uber. It is not by choice.”

The former prime minister said only the demented would go to university to study engineering and medicine, and return to low-paying jobs.

He said graduates who turned to such jobs did so because they could not secure employment in their chosen fields.

“For those who do it by choice, we wish them all the best. But, many are forced to do so not because of their own mistakes.

“They are paying for the government policies that say gross domestic product and investments are high, but the people are unemployed.

“Because of this unemployment, they are forced to sell nasi lemak and become Uber drivers.” – January 22, 2018.

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Comments

  • Only umno will menupulate your statement tun..we the rakyat understand.

    Posted 8 years ago by Ali Along · Reply

  • You are to be blamed too!! Through NEP and other discriminatory policies, non-Malays were suppressed in building industrial and commercial enterprises, thereby creating jobs for all Malaysians. Despike all obstacles, even if they succeed, they were forced to give "free" shares or totally sell out to cronies which then ran the companies to the ground due to their incompetencies ........... All leaders in UMNO, past and present, are the same, its in the party's ideology. If nothing is changed and discriminatory policies remained (even with change of government), Malaysian will end up like Zimbabwe.



    Posted 8 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

    • That is why we need him to win the GE14. It is no point in harping old stale issues. Crying over spilt milk lead us all no where. Madhatir has in a simplest form of appology which many do not notice, are now speaking out of the ills and miseries dished out by Umno. He has acknowleged the wrongs by speaking out against it and taking a big stand with opposition to topple Umno , then only he can introduce the reforms. I personally think he now realise that Malaysia is not just the Malay race alone and he has got bitten by his own race which looks down on all his deeds and achievements without any appreciation. Instead they had humilated and totally defamed and tarnished him in his role during his tenure as PM. A nonagenarins statesman without standing and no proper accord of respect as per their cultural values of holding the elders in esteem are all lost on him. No one can understand the anguish unless one is deeply in it. We do not need to be on par with all those "banggang" in Umno in belittling him any further, as again I have said many a times let him have a good fight to do and correct his wrong in his own ways and I believe he will ride out to the sunset with his trademark of "I am the only one who could do it ".

      Posted 8 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply