I am opposition's willing bait for Malay votes, says Dr Mahathir

Melati A. Jalil Melati A. Jalil Updated 8 years ago · Published on 2 Mar 2018 9:56PM · 3 Comments

Kampung Baru folk cheer on their former prime minister who has promised to bring the development to their village that is in keeping with the Malay heritage. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, March 2, 2018.

PAKATAN Harapan chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad today told Kampung Baru folk he was a willing bait if it is to win the hearts of Malay voters for the opposition.

The former prime minister said certain segments of the Malay community were still afraid to vote for the opposition and that he, who still had influence over the country’s largest ethnic group, needed to play his part to allay their fears.

“I’m almost 93 years old, how long can I be prime minister? But if I can be used as bait to get more Malays to support Pakatan Harapan, I’m willing,” he said to loud cheers from the crowd of 200 people at an event in the Malay heartland in the centre of Kuala Lumpur. 

“If they want me to be the prime minister (if PH wins the 14th general election), I will become prime minister.

“But I’m a 93-year-old man, I have no intention to be the prime minister till the end of my life. But with my experience, I think I can help the new government to fix our country’s problems – like the huge debts that Malaysia has now. 

Kampung Baru, one of the oldest Malay settlements in the city, is home to historical landmarks such as Kelab Sultan Sulaiman. 

The 117-year-old club in 1940 hosted the first Malay journalists’ conference, the precursor to Umno’s birth in 1946 as the first Malay congress. 

During the May riots of 1969, it served as a shelter for hundreds fleeing the violence.

Pakatan Harapan chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad receives a warm welcome in the Malay heartland of Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Najjua Zulkefli, March 2, 2018.

Dr Mahathir said if Pakatan Harapan succeeded in its efforts to bring down the Barisan Nasional government in the 14th general election, the opposition would form a Kampung Baru committee that would advise the new government on development of the village. 

“When I was the prime minister, I tried to develop Kampung Baru but we encountered many problems like missing landowners. 

“It’s hard to develop (the land) because we need their agreement.” 

He said all developments planned in Kampung Baru must be in keeping with the Malay heritage.

“This factor must be taken into account if we want to develop Kampung Baru. I don’t want to see Kampung Baru become like Kampung Kerinchi or Abdullah Hukum, there is no village, only skyscrapers,” he said referring to the high-rise flats in former villages. 

“If Kampung Baru is developed, I hope it will continue to be a Malay village. 

“That’s why I think that if Kampung Baru is be developed, it must be done through discussions with the people of Kampung Baru, the representatives to ensure the development is in line with the demand of the people.” – March 2, 2018.
 

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Comments

  • For a 93 year old man to suggest that he is just bait to a cause that is suspected to be dominated by a chinese chauvinistic party, and that to a Malay crowd, does not only sound like something that will not inspire the confidence of crowd, but it actually sounds like something that might alarm the crowd.

    Dr Mahathir is a Malay champion - one of the greatest Champions of the Malays in recent memory. To see him old and feeble and referring himself as a bait does not appear to my mind like a vision that will inspire the Malays to think “ don’t worry , what’s the worse that can happen - let’s give chance a chance .”

    It looks to me like a vision that will make the Malays think “ oh my god , look at how far we have fallen , look at how much we have lost. No more, no more . We will not give even an inch more.”

    Posted 8 years ago by Nehru Sathiamoorthy · Reply

  • When Tun M said "bait" the crowd applauded. There is a context to why he used the word. That context is that he would prefer to retire but for fighting to remove UMNO. A past PM and various ex DPMs have tried to remove UMNO from power so that it can reset itself but failed. Tun M has the most influence amongst all ex PMs. He may just pull through. Say what you will about ulterior motives. He's not a great tactician if he doesn't have one, but in the circumstances, I'd prefer his tactics to MO1 remaining in the office together with his unscrupulous lieutenants.

    Posted 8 years ago by Quigon Bond · Reply

  • Keeping a rich heritage like ours is a must as it reflects our history and struggles from the past ... todays leaders want to destroy this and be in siok sendiri mode as though all was done by the Malays and no contributions from the Chinese or Indians .... just look at Kedah and how that got vanished and others. These are folks like kacang lupa kulit ...... keep changing road names etc...... I feel todays leaders are very selfish and only think of themselves and not the future of our children......just wanna grab as much as they can lay their hands on. Dr M is right in keeping Kg Baru within a Malay kampong concept and not build high rise .....we need this and we must be proud of what we are and where we came from.....not diamond rings and fancy handbags stuffs....LOL

    Posted 8 years ago by Crishan Veera · Reply