Dr M admits affirmative action a "temporary crutch" but insists scholarships, APs still needed

PUTRAJAYA - The Malays in the country must adapt to change and emphasise on the value system of hard work, honesty and discipline as keys to success, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The former prime minister admitted that not changing the mindset of the Malays was one of his failures as the nation’s prime minister for 22 years.

“Changing the character of the Malays is a very difficult job. However, I did not fail 100 per cent.

“I strongly believe the success or failure of a person, society and country is based on the value system. If the value system of that community puts priority on hard work, honesty and discipline, then, these are the three things which will make you succeed.

“That’s why, I tried to explain why you should change, and these will not make you less Malay, just because you work hard, have honesty and discipline,” he said at the 15th Perdana Discourse Series, ‘The Future of Affirmative Action’, at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here today.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir said the affirmative action had to remain to uplift the economic capacity and reduce the social gap in the country.

However, he said the affirmative action should be slowly taken away to enable the Malays to become more competitive in snaring a bigger slice of the economic pie.

“Affirmative action is neither a permanent privilege nor symbol of superior status for the Malays and Bumiputera.

“Affirmative action should be regarded as a temporary crutch to enable you to walk forward and eventually, we have to throw away the crutch when we feel very certain that Malays can compete in the market without any ‘tongkat’,” he said.

To enrich the Malays further, for that period, Dr Mahathir said certain elements of the affirmative action needed to be maintained, including scholarship, approved permit licence and contract to those who were capable. – Bernama