RACE-based politics continue to thrive in Malaysia because the people insist on retaining the identity of their country of origin, Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today.
The former prime minister said unlike in other countries where the immigrants adopt the local languages and cultures upon receiving citizenship, this does not happen in Malaysia.
“The migrants from other countries, upon accepting citizenship, adopt the language, culture and loyalties of their adopted countries completely. They get fully assimilated after one or two generations,” he wrote in a blog post.
“But in Malaysia, the migrants, despite being citizens, insist not only on being recognised as of different origins from the indigenous people but are physically separated through their economic functions and their political affiliations.”
So long as Malaysians continue to identify with their country of origin, the politics and political parties in the country will continue to be race-based, he added.
Dr Mahathir, who is the chairman of Pejuang, said that this lack of assimilation is the reason why the party has to be Malay-based in order to fight for votes.
“It (Pejuang) expects to contest against Umno, a Malay party. And it expects to do this in the rural areas where the population is largely Malay.
“These people will not support a multiracial party. In the absence of any other Malay party, the rural people will vote for Umno.”
The Langkawi MP said it can only take on Umno on its race rhetoric as it does not have deep pockets.
“Umno is rich and rural Malays are poor. Money means a lot to them.
“Pejuang is the alternative. Pejuang has no money. It depends on race and its anti-corruption campaign,” Dr Mahathir added. – October 6, 2021.
Comments
Posted 2 years ago by Malaysia New hope · Reply
The non-Malays identify themselves as Malaysians first.
So who are the pendatang? And who are the Malaysians?
The Orang Asli are the only real bumiputera in this equation.
Posted 2 years ago by Arul Inthirarajah · Reply
Posted 2 years ago by Rupert Lum · Reply
Secondly, even in one of the most culturally homogenous of countries (France), Breton, Basque and other regional language schools have been sprouting up and regionalism/minority cultures and identities are getting stronger. Less than a hundred years ago, Breton children were punished for speaking their native tongues in school. Not so long ago, many French people couldn't string a sentence together in English. Now, most young French people are learning English. Today, even France is recognising that strength can be found in diversity. Meanwhile, this dinosaur politician is still stuck in 1950 or so.
Posted 2 years ago by Anak Kampung · Reply
Posted 2 years ago by Richard Foo · Reply
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