Singapore Malays ‘Kowtow’ to others, Says Mahathir
KUALA TERENGGANU – MALAYS in Malaysia could end up as a weak minority if they remain politically divided, said former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, comparing them to Malay Singaporeans.
Even though Malay Singaporeans enjoy the benefits of a more developed country, they had to ‘kowtow’ to others, he claimed yesterday, returning to a rhetoric he often espoused as prime minister.
Dr Mahathir addressed some 1,000 Malay activists at a Malay rights rally in the capital of Terengganu state. This was well below the expected turnout of 5,000, and organisers blamed this on the World Cup, reported The Star newspaper.
Dr Mahathir said: ‘The position of the Malays (in Malaysia) is in deep crisis and precarious. If they do not think deeply and act wisely, one day, we could become like Malay Singaporeans, a group without power who have to terbongkok-bongkok (kowtow) before others.
‘We do not want others to kowtow before us, but we want a fair distribution of power and wealth.’
Tun Dr Mahathir’s speech came amid fears among some in the community that Malays will lose their dominant status in Malaysia, especially with the increasing influence of opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat and its focus on multiracialism.
Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_540409.html
My two cents: Mahathir have said it! Malays in Singapore apparently need to kowtow to others. I think he is not very sensitive to Singapore Malays feelings over his remarks, and have definitely anger many of them by now. About 14% of 4.8 million population of Singapore is Malay, living happily and growing!
Many Singapore Malays object to his remarks of course. In Singapore, the hardworking Singaporean Malays will be recognise and benefit from the meritocratic system and work with dignity for those Singapore Malays that graduate with professional degree. Some have also mention that they are happy to be able stand equal among other Singaporean rather than being spoon-fed all the time.
I am not very sure what is Mahathir is trying to achieve during the Malay rights rally but I guess that people finds it more important to watch world cup game instead as only 1,000 people show up. (This was well below the expected turnout of 5,000, and organisers blamed this on the World Cup, reported The Star newspaper).
One of the replies:-
MR AHMAD ABU BAKAR: ‘I strongly object to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s remarks. Like others, Malay Singaporeans work hard for the benefits in a meritocratic system. They are not born with a crutch of ethnic rights, quotas and ‘unfair’ opportunities. When Singapore Malays graduate from universities as doctors, engineers and scientists, they can hold their heads as high as the others, because they have done so by their own hard work and merit.’
KUALA TERENGGANU – MALAYS in Malaysia could end up as a weak minority if they remain politically divided, said former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, comparing them to Malay Singaporeans.
Even though Malay Singaporeans enjoy the benefits of a more developed country, they had to ‘kowtow’ to others, he claimed yesterday, returning to a rhetoric he often espoused as prime minister.
Dr Mahathir addressed some 1,000 Malay activists at a Malay rights rally in the capital of Terengganu state. This was well below the expected turnout of 5,000, and organisers blamed this on the World Cup, reported The Star newspaper.
Dr Mahathir said: ‘The position of the Malays (in Malaysia) is in deep crisis and precarious. If they do not think deeply and act wisely, one day, we could become like Malay Singaporeans, a group without power who have to terbongkok-bongkok (kowtow) before others.
‘We do not want others to kowtow before us, but we want a fair distribution of power and wealth.’
Tun Dr Mahathir’s speech came amid fears among some in the community that Malays will lose their dominant status in Malaysia, especially with the increasing influence of opposition coalition Pakatan Rakyat and its focus on multiracialism.
Source: http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_540409.html
My two cents: Mahathir have said it! Malays in Singapore apparently need to kowtow to others. I think he is not very sensitive to Singapore Malays feelings over his remarks, and have definitely anger many of them by now. About 14% of 4.8 million population of Singapore is Malay, living happily and growing!
Many Singapore Malays object to his remarks of course. In Singapore, the hardworking Singaporean Malays will be recognise and benefit from the meritocratic system and work with dignity for those Singapore Malays that graduate with professional degree. Some have also mention that they are happy to be able stand equal among other Singaporean rather than being spoon-fed all the time.
I am not very sure what is Mahathir is trying to achieve during the Malay rights rally but I guess that people finds it more important to watch world cup game instead as only 1,000 people show up. (This was well below the expected turnout of 5,000, and organisers blamed this on the World Cup, reported The Star newspaper).
One of the replies:-
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