Dr M ‘sad’ when Malays talk about Ketuanan Melayu

Dr M said today that certain aspects of the NEP should be phased out. — file pic

KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he is saddened when he hears Malays talk about Ketuanan Melayu as he wanted the race to depend on its capabilities and not privileges.


The former prime minister also appeared to suggest that he had some reservations about linking the NEP with Article 153 of the Constitution and said that certain aspects of the NEP should be phased out, when responding to a question on Article 153 following his speech at the National Professors’ Congress here today.

“With regard to 153, if it’s related to Bahasa, Agama and all that, it is fine, but we have extended it to include the NEP. And certain aspects of the NEP should be phased out as soon as the people who benefit from the NEP have shown their capabilities,” he said.

“I feel very sad when I hear Malays talk about Ketuanan Melayu,” he added. “Apparently, there is Malay reserve land because we are Tuan. But to have to live in a Malay reserve is an insult because that means I’m so weak that I’m to be protected in my own country. It is not something to be proud of.”

Dr Mahathir also said that the Malays should upgrade their capabilities so that they will not have to depend on special privileges.

“Some feel they have privileges because they are superior and Tuan but if you work as a driver for somebody, the man behind you will say ‘Tuan please take me here and there,’” he said.

The topic of race-based privileges and affirmative action has long been a controversial topic in Malaysia with its proponents pointing to Article 153 of the Constitution, which touches on the special position of Malays, and the more recent concept of “Ketuanan Melayu”, or Malay supremacy, to justify economic privileges.

Critics, however, say that the whole system of privileges has been abused, and is driving a wedge between the races — on top of eroding the country’s competitiveness.

Dr Mahathir himself has often appeared to contradict himself by fast-tracking Malay businessmen into big business and tolerating race-based quotas for initiatives like import licenses during his administration but at the same time, criticising Malays for not being more enterprising and hardworking.