The Malaysian Insider,
KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 1 — The DAP’s Lim Kit Siang claimed today that Tun Dr Mahathir was a “major obstacle” to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s 1 Malaysia concept, with the ex-premier pushing for an indefinite continuation of pro-Bumiputera New Economic Policy (NEP)-style policies.
The former prime minister had, in a Merdeka blog post two days ago, predicted that there would be an escalation in racial tension and division should NEP-style policies be removed, likening the situation to the Communist revolution in Europe.
Dr Mahathir added that the time was not right to introduce policies which would “disregard the disparities between races in the interest of equity and merit”.
“Clearly, on the occasion of the 53rd National Day, Mahathir has crossed the Rubicon to become Najib’s biggest antagonist in Umno and the major obstacle to Najib’s 1 Malaysia and National Transformation Agenda,” said Lim in a statement today.
Dr Mahathir had also justified his arguments for maintaining NEP-based policies, claiming that during his tenure as prime minister and under the implementation of the NEP, Malaysia enjoyed stability and good economic growth.
He said that despite increased talks about “meritocracy,” the races in the country are more divided today than ever before.
Today, Lim demanded that Najib respond to Dr Mahathir’s claims, as Najib had occupied key government posts as well as top Umno positions during Dr Mahathir’s tenure as prime minister.
“Here we have the country’s longest-serving prime minister in fact telling the current prime minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, that despite this year’s Merdeka Month theme: ‘1 Malaysia: Transforming the Nation’ and the latter’s 1 Malaysia policy and National Transformation Programme for 18 months since assuming the highest office in the land in April last year, national unity and inter-racial relations had never been so bad at present as compared to any time in the 22 years Mahathir had been prime minister, from 1981 – 2003.
The Ipoh Timur MP said that Dr Mahathir had “virtually dismissed” Najib’s National Transformation Programme, in particular the 1 Malaysia concept and the New Economic Model (NEM).
According to Lim, Dr Mahathir’s attacks on Najib’s reform policies began early last month, when the former prime minister demanded that Najib provide a further explanation on the 1 Malaysia policy to prevent it from being interpreted differently by various races.
The DAP stalwart claimed that Dr Mahathir had now broadened his offensive to also encapsulate Najib’s National Transformation Agenda, after the former prime minister openly opposed the merit-based NEM and warned that dismantling pro-Bumiputera policies in favour of needs-based approach would put the country at risk of a revolution.
“Mahathir even equated and condemned meritocracy as racism — when meritocracy is one of the principles of Najib’s ‘1 Malaysia. People First. Performance Now’ policy,” added Lim.
The DAP man said that Najib needed to respond to Dr Mahathir’s assaults, and questioned whether Najib would still push his reform agendas or “back down.”
“Will Najib back down from his 1 Malaysia and National Transformation Agenda?
“If not, who will win the battle in Umno and Barisan Nasional for allegiance — the Najib or Mahathir forces?” said Lim.
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