Save Selangor to maintain position of the Malays, Bumiputras: Dr M

SHAH ALAM, March 10 — In the last stretch before GE13, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad dropped all pretense for a Bangsa Malaysia and has gone for the Malay vote and slammed the Opposition for listening and accommodating the views and needs of the non-Malays.

State news agency Bernama quoted the country’s longest-serving prime minister as saying that Selangor must be saved from the opposition to ensure the rights and position of the Malays and Bumiputras are maintained in the state.

Dr Mahathir said the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) had taken over Selangor’s economy and now had great ambition to control politics in the state.

“Prior to this, when Selangor was under the Barisan Nasional (BN), we could see the economic growth was prolific and the Malays and Bumiputras had a place, so we lived more happily than previously.

“If the opposition wins and administer Selangor, the position of the Malays and Bumiputras will be shunted aside. Because of this, we must act quickly to convince the people of Selangor to topple the opposition government and replace it with BN which is led by Umno.

“Our sacrifices will be in vain if Selangor cannot be saved,” Dr Mahathir (picture) said at the closing of the convoy ‘Save Selangor’ organised by Selangor Perkasa here, today.

Also present was his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, Perkasa president Datuk Ibrahim Ali and Selangor Perkasa president Abu Bakar Yahya.

More than 3,000 took part in the motorcycle convoy to USJ, Subang Jaya and Rantau Panjang, Klang from 10am by carrying the Malaysian, Perkasa and BN flags.

The convoy also visited the grave of the late L/Kpl Mohd Azrul Tukiran

at the Rantau Panjang Muslim Cemetary and had tahlil prayers for policemen killed in an ambush at Kampung Seri Jaya, Simunul, Semporna on March 2.

Dr Mahathir said, the weakness of two Malay parties in the opposition, resulted in disrespect for the race and risked the special privileges of the Malays and Bumpiutra being done away with.

“We also want to stress that Bahasa Melayu and Islam are the official language and religion of our nation. So they must respect our rights as how we respect their rights.

“But, because the leadership of the Malays in the opposition pact is very weak, they often just follow their colleagues including when pressed for the word Allah to be used (in the Bible).

“When they proposed to strip the special privileges of the Malays, the opposition, which purportedly had two parties with Malay leadership, willingly complied. If we are not careful, we will lose altogether our rights on our own soil and they (opposition) will get rid of all

efforts to develop the Malays and Bumiputras.

In Klang, Dr Mahathir reminded the people not to allow emotion to rule the day when choosing the government in the 13th general election.

He said the people should be wise when making the choice as their votes would determine their destiny and that of the next generation.

“We must use our good judgement to evaluate the performance of a government and if our judgement is clouded by emotions, then we may choose a wrong government, much to our detriment.

“Vote a proven party that has been responsible to the voters and willing to serve the people,” he said at the “The Future of the Malaysian Race” forum.