Sivaraj slams Tun M over pendatang remarks, labels the former premier ‘unbecoming’, ‘ungrateful’
SHAH ALAM - Former MIC vice-president Datuk C Sivaraj urges Malaysians to ignore former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s recent comments on non-Malays, saying that they are divisive and unhelpful.
Sivaraj said that Mahathir’s comments, which were made during a ceramah at Bakri Pas Markaz, were ‘unbecoming of a former prime minister’ and that they ‘only serve to divide the country further’.
He pointed out that Mahathir himself had benefited from the support of non-Malays in the past, and that it was ‘ungrateful’ of him to now make such disparaging remarks.
Sivaraj also said that Mahathir’s comments were factually incorrect, as non-Malays have made significant contributions to the country’s development in all fields, including politics, business, and culture.
He urged Malaysians to “rise above these petty differences” and to focus on building a more united and harmonious nation.
“Mahathir's comments are divisive and unhelpful. They only serve to divide the country further.
"As a former prime minister, he should know better than to make such remarks.
"He should be setting an example for the rest of the country, not trying to stir up trouble.
"I urge Malaysians to ignore these comments and to focus on building a more united and harmonious nation," Sivaraj told Sinar Daily when contacted today.
Sivaraj's comments come after Dr Mahathir made a speech at the ceramah in which he said that the non-Malays' unwillingness to assimilate with Malay culture, including creating their own political parties, had contributed to the racial issues in the country.
Dr Mahathir had said that such practices were not seen in neighbouring countries such as Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia where political parties were created for ‘pendatang’ (migrants).
"But in Malaysia, these ‘pendatang’ live here and receive the citizenship of this country but are still distancing themselves.
“Even in politics, they are establishing their own parties. This is why there are still racial issues in this country,” he said.
He even gave short disclaimer: “It is not that we do not like them, but they are the ones who do not like us”.
Dr Mahathir went on to take take jab at Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, where he said Pakatan Harapan was led by a person who tells the people that the country does not belong to the Malays alone but also to others.
Dr Mahathir's comments have also been condemned by MCA secretary-general Datuk Chong Sin Woon, who accused the former Langkawi MP of stoking racial tensions.
