Dr M confident Malays can succeed without govt "crutches"

Recently insisted Malays needed 'handicaps'

LANGKAWI — Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he believed that the Malays in the country can succeed without the government’s help one day.

He said now many Malays had succeeded because of the New Economic Policy (NEP) and this had led to claims that without the “crutches” they would not be able to cut it on their own.

“As a result of the NEP, today, many Malays have become successful, including in businesses.

“The NEP is a success. Some people say successful because of the NEP, but the government is gradually reducing aid to the Malays and will continue to reduce further.

“So, soon we will see Malays becoming successful without the aid of ‘crutches’,” he said at the opening of The Danna Hotel here tonight.

The hotel was opened by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Dr Mahathir added that before it was never thought of that a Malay could own a hotel chain, but today a few bumiputera entrepreneurs had done it. — Bernama