Dr M wades into Ketuanan Melayu ban: Slams Soi Lek as illogical

Illogical to ban Ketuanan Melayu. We're defending ourselves

Wong Choon Mei, Malaysia Chronicle

Former premier Mahathir Mohamad has weighed into the controversy stirred by MCA president Chua Soi Lek when he called for a ban to a string of phrases that non-Malays have found offensive including Ketuanan Melyau or Malay supremacy.

“These things have never cropped up before. When people started questioning the position of the Malays then it is our right to defend ourselves. If people had not questioned then no one would have had to respond," Mahathir was reported as saying.

The 85-year Mahathir had ruled Malaysia with a fist of iron for 22 years and is widely blamed for having formalized and deepened the racial system in Malaysia with divisive policies aimed to help him and his party retain power over the Malay community, the largest voter base in the country.

On Wednesday, he did not disappoint the horde of reporters who rushed to get his opinion. He labeled Soi Lek's comments as "illogical" and "baseless".

“When we respond to defend ourselves, then they say we are breaching human rights and are racist. On the other hand, when we accuse them of being racist, people label us as racists,” Mahathir said.

Small brothers put up small fight

In a speech aimed to steal the thunder from Prime Minister Najib Razak at the recent BN congress held at the MCA auditorium, Soi Lek was keen to show his mettle to his party and the Chinese community.

Soi Lek, Tsu Koon - they look tough but looks are deceiving

Not only did the scandal-plagued MCA leader caution leaders against using sensitive words likependatang or immigrants, penumpang or passengers, terhutang budi or indebted to,kurang patriotic or unpatriotic and ketuanan Melayu, he also called for an end to Umno's "big brother" or bullying attitude towards other BN partners.

It immediately triggered a slew of calls for his neck and for Najib to kick the MCA out of the BN. Umno leaders, with Mahathir being the latest, slammed his "insensitivity towards the Malays" although Gerakan president, Koh Tsu Koon, has come to his defence.

“Announcing major government policies after Umno meetings and not just after Cabinet and BN meetings have given rise to the perception that BN is not quite a coalition of equals as stated in the BN constitution,” Tsu Koon said.

But that was all that the former Penang chief minister was prepared to say, sparking speculation that both he and Soi Lek soon 'surrender' as they have always done in the past to their big brother, Umno.

In his next breath, Tsu Koon quickly retreated into the timid speech that has made Gerakan supporters lose patience with him and even drawn a recent public scolding from party life-advisor Lim Keng Yaik.

“I advise all parties to move on and focus on the transformation process and realise the 1 Malaysia concept spearheaded by the prime minister and BN chairman, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak,” Tsu Koon said.