Dr Mahathir cautioned the Malays that they stood to lose if they backed Pakatan Rakyat’s quest for Putrajaya. — Reuters pic
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 24 — Lembah MP Nurul Izzah Anwar today accused former prime minister and Perkasa patron Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad of perpetuating the politics of racial fear to keep the ruling Malay elite in power, which she said was detrimental to the nation’s stability and progress.
The PKR legislator also offered to debate the veteran Umno politician to disprove the claims he articulated in a blog post yesterday, in which the latter denied he was a racist.
“The ‘politics of fear’ uses Article 153 as a political instrument of deceit and despair,” the first-term MP said, referring to the Federal Constitution.
Article 153 concerns the special position of the Bumiputeras, which includes the Malay community.
Dr Mahathir appeared to play the race card for Umno yesterday by warning Malays that they risked losing power if Pakatan Rakyat (PR) came to rule.
He also implied that a Chinese or an Indian could become prime minister if PR took federal power because there was no constitutional restriction on race for the position.
The former prime minister claimed the political marginalisation of the Malays had already become a reality in PR-controlled states even though those administrations were led by Malays.
The Malaysian Insider understands that Dr Mahathir has offered his expertise to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to deliver a big win for Barisan Nasional (BN) in the next general election, which could be held as early as next year.
His remarks to Umno Online yesterday suggest he will play a big role in Umno’s campaign to consolidate support among conservative Malays and win over fence-sitters uneasy with PR administrations.
Nurul Izzah observed today that Dr Mahathir appeared to be suggesting the constitution should be amended so that only Malays can hold the prime ministership.
“The aim of this is none other to maintain political hegemony by the ruling Malay elite few who have enriched themselves through corruption, abuse of power and undermining the constitution relentlessly,” she added, slamming the octogenarian for warning yesterday.
“I find this statement as irresponsible and as a desperate attempt to destabilise the nation,” the 30-year-old said of the country’s longest-serving premier.
The eldest daughter of Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and a rising star in the PR bloc called on Malays to stand firm against the described threat to their community.
“We must fight back by emphasising on the ‘Politics of Hope and Liberation’, which will transform the Malay mind from the false fear of losing their identity and economical development to a positive force that will create a confident and liberated community,” she urged.
Nurul Izzah claimed the Malays have been persistently “indoctrinated” to “act out a victim mentality narrative that degrades, confuses and paralyses a community to remain enslaved intellectually and emotionally first by the colonial masters and now by its new reincarnation, Umno”.
She stressed that the other partners in the ruling Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition were also guilty for not speaking up for the communities they represented. - The Malaysian Insider
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