(Harakah Daily) - Former UMNO strongman Dr Mahathir Mohamad has shot back at those who scold him for talking politics after retirement, saying he only feared Pakatan Rakyat's policies when it comes to power including its rejection of the New Economic Policy.
"When I find that the opposition rejects the NEP, I feel a need to voice my fears for the future of this, my beloved country.
"As much as my detractors have a right to object to my continued involvement in politics, I have a right to hold a different view," said Mahathir, the country's longest serving premier, in his latest blog posting.
The NEP launched by the late Tun Abdul Razak in 1971 was the controversial plan to reduce the socioeconomic disparity between the Chinese and Malay majorities, whose success has been the subject of debate.
PR had repeatedly called for a needs-based policies, saying programmes under the NEP had only enriched cronies of ruling politicians who claim to represent their respective race.
Recalling how the government of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had weakened the country, something he said "is still felt today", Mahathir argued that since 2008, the stronger opposition had resulted in "open confrontation" between races, and defended growth plans based on race.
"Unfortunately in Malaysia we all insist on becoming identified by our race," he added.
"As much as my detractors have a right to object to my continued involvement in politics, I have a right to hold a different view," said Mahathir, the country's longest serving premier, in his latest blog posting.
The NEP launched by the late Tun Abdul Razak in 1971 was the controversial plan to reduce the socioeconomic disparity between the Chinese and Malay majorities, whose success has been the subject of debate.
PR had repeatedly called for a needs-based policies, saying programmes under the NEP had only enriched cronies of ruling politicians who claim to represent their respective race.
Recalling how the government of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had weakened the country, something he said "is still felt today", Mahathir argued that since 2008, the stronger opposition had resulted in "open confrontation" between races, and defended growth plans based on race.
"Unfortunately in Malaysia we all insist on becoming identified by our race," he added.
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