SHAH ALAM - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has questioned Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's statement recently where he reminded the Malays not to be arrogant with other races
It was reported that Anwar had said this while visiting Cambodia
The former Prime Minister said Anwar should not speak that way as it indirectly insults Malays.
He stated Malays prior to and after independence has always celebrated other races.
" I also found out that he made that statement after a visit to Cambodia and he had said that even though Cambodian Muslims are only 10 percent, they are celebrated, mosques are not demolished, their rights are protected and they are even appointed as ministers to represent their interests.
"Anwar's statement is quite strange and odd because he insults the Malays as arrogant and does not behave like the majority of Buddhists in Cambodia who celebrate the Muslim minority," he said in a post on his Facebook page on Wednesday.
Dr Mahathir went on to elaborate that citizenship has been given to one million immigrants who did not even meet certain conditions, and they are allowed to continue with their own customs, culture, school, languages, and way of life from their own countries
"When the country achieved independence they are given the right to vote and the race representatives are the ones elected to become ministers and hold other top positions in government.
"If we are counting from the time of independence until today, there are hundreds if not thousands if you include all the positions of ministers, deputy ministers, parliamentary secretaries and other important positions," he said.
Dr Mahathir went on to say that more than 90 percent of the country's economy, including billionaires, are non-Malays.
"The are big temples that are built everywhere in the Malay Peninsula and the Malays never felt threatened.
"Similarly, there are large religious statues in all corners of Malaysia , in fact one of the largest in the world is found in Kelantan, where the Malay population exceeds 95 percent," he said.
He said if the Prime Minister's leadership did not allow for Malay issues to be broadcasted that itself is a racial issue.
"If we are not hard-working and rise up we will lose everything. However, today Anwar said Malays are arrogant and did not want to celebrate other races.
"The Malays have given a lot space for other races until a portion for the Malays are almost gone.
"For Malays to defend what they had left is considered as arrogant to Anwar. Will there no longer be arrogance when Malays have nothing left?" he questioned.