Dr M: Greed the cause for Malay failure

Greed is a factor for the Malays losing their economic and political strength, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad says.

"The New Economic Policy cannot happen without political power. When we created the NEP, we (the Malays) were strong and respected. 

"Now we are not acknowledged. It is our fault because we are attacked by greed and the race to gain positions," he is reported as saying by the daily theSuntoday. 

Addressing the Malay Economic Congress in a speech which the Sun said "pulled no punches", Mahathir said the Malays have been afflicted by the "get rich quick" syndrome.

"We must ask ourselves, did we use the opportunities well? We must admit our mistakes. We must reduce our greed, our urge to get rich quickly, and insincere use of such opportunities, simply by knowing the right people," he is reported as saying.

Mahathir also chastised the Malays for abusing opportunities given to them by pawning these off to others. 

"Get a contract, we sell it. Get an approved permit, we sell it," he is quoted as saying. 

He also said that Malays were weak and had lost their clout because they were divided among themselves on support for PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, whose only ambition is to become prime minister.