He said this dilemma is not caused by other people but by the Malays themselves because they are incapable of defending themselves and often withdraw from stating an opinion whenever a crisis occur.
“We are in a dilemma. If we remain silent, it could be taken as accepting an opinion. But, if we respond, we may be accused of being racist. I am not racist. I am merely stating the truth. When we talk of our race, we acknowledge the race. We should be proud that we are Malays,” he said.
Dr Mahathir was delivering a keynote address at a symposium on “The Malay Dilemma: Perspective and Conclusion” organised by the Persatuan Alumni Pemimpin Mahasiswa Aspirasi Malaysia (Aspirasi) at the PWTC.
He said the attitude of submitting easily is a drawback for the Malays and, if they clung on to this value, it would eventually lead to erosion of their position in this country.
He said the Malays should adopt a higher quality of life by striving, pursuing knowledge and taking advantage of opportunities because only these elements would determine the progress or regression of a community.
“We are given opportunities, but do not take advantage of them. When I visit universities, I ask myself why there are so many female students. Where are the male students? Are they stupid or not taking advantage of the opportunity to build a better future for themselves?” he said.
Dr Mahathir said that if the Malays were wise enough to make best use of the opportunities made available by the New Economic Policy (NEP), they would attain not only 30 per cent of the nation’s wealth but much more than that.
He said the NEP has to be continued because the Malays has yet to attain the quota set, and the Malays should continue to avoid from regressing from their current position as a successful race in the country.
“The government will safeguard our position, but there will come a day when it will not be able to defend national policies.
“This can happen because the Malays are obsessed with the majority they have, to the extent that they want to become the prime minister, to go to Putrajaya. If they are really keen on doing so, then go ahead!” he said.
He said some Malays are prepared to gamble away whatever they have to attain power and divide the Malays to the extent of rendering them weak.
On Malay supremacy, Dr Mahathir said the Malays should strive and have “halal” and adequate source of income to retain the title.
“If you want to be the master, you have to equip yourself with knowledge and efficiency. Can we become the master when other people ask us to do work which is not that of a master? If you want to develop yourself, you must reject values unsuitable to present-day development,” he said.
Dr Mahathir reminded the Malays not to be too obsessed with earning a huge income though the country desired to be a high-income nation because it could drive them to corruption. — Bernama
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