Sarawak minister slams Mahathir's 'crazy statement' on multiculturalism

SHAH ALAM - A Sarawak minister says Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) government will not collaborate with former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad due to his recent remarks against promoting a multiracial Malaysia.

Datuk Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, the Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Minister viewed that Dr Mahathir, who retired after a long tenure as the nation's leader should refrain from returning to politics and instead allow other leaders to govern the country smoothly.

“When he said Malaysia is not a multiracial country, that you cannot promote Malaysia as a multiracial country since it is (supposedly) against the Federal Constitution, what kind of crazy opinion is that?

“That’s why I say how to work together with somebody like that. Leave politics to those who you have been groomed to lead the nation. That’s how it should be and you don’t come back and start going against those you have groomed," he was quoted in Borneo Post.

“It reflects on him, coming up with that statement. So how to work together with somebody like that when that kind of statement doesn’t augur well with the majority of the nation,” he said.

Karim, the Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) vice president said he was puzzled with the 98 year old's statement.

“How would the non-Malays feel? I am a Malay but sometimes I feel when you say that you cannot promote Malaysia as a multiracial country, what crazy statement are you giving? And this coming from somebody who has been a prime minister twice,” he added.

Recently, Dr Mahathir claimed that promoting Malaysia as a multiracial country is against the Federal Constitution.

Tuaran MP Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau criticised Dr Mahathir's remark, stating that it aimed to divide Malaysians.

Dr Mahathir’s anti-multiculturalism stance was particularly insulting to Sabahans and Sarawakians and urged Malaysians to unite, said the former United Progressive Kinabalu Organisation (Upko).