Dr M: Perkasa candidates picked for polls 'are for us'

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has defended BN's selection of candidates from Malay rights group Perkasa, such as Zulkifli Noordin for Shah Alam, as fielding them will translate into votes for the BN.

In a programme on Media Prima Bhd's television channel ntv7, Mahathir said the BN needed people from Perkasa because "they are for us".

"In the first place, when the government was weak, there were attacks against Malay privileges. Hence, Perkasa was there to defend the Malays. The Chinese openly say they will not support the BN because we support Perkasa.

"They say at the most BN will get 20 percent of their (non-Malay) votes. But we cannot ignore Perkasa because they are for us. 

"You say you do not want to vote for us (because we put up Perkasa candidates), but if we reject the people who are for us, where will the BN be? This is a reaction to what they say," he said.

Mahathir said this in an ntv7 Chat Time programme last night, when the host asked the former PM about his support for the Malay rights group, which could result in non-Malays not supporting the BN.

Mahathir argued that the Chinese, unlike the other immigrants, do not want to assimilate with the locals, including the Malays.

He said, "You (Chinese) agree from the very beginning that there will be no assimilation, unlike the people from Arab countries, Indonesia, India or Pakistan, who assimilated into Malaya.

"You (Chinese) agreed from the very beginning that there will not be any assimilation, so you can continue with your culture, your language and religion. 

"Hence, you cannot be the same as others who adopted the idea of assimilation... you cannot expect the same if you do not want to assimilate."

The situation, Mahathir said, was like in America, where immigrants must pledge allegiance to the country upon migrating there, and they must also assimilate locally.

'Opposition cannot administer country'

Mahathir also said that despite the PAS, PKR and DAP opposition pact having controlled Kelantan, Selangor, Kedah and Penang, they would not be able to run the federal government as they lacked cohesion.

"The opposition has not shown that it can administer at federal level. It has not shown to be very cohesive, unlike the BN which has one symbol, one manifesto and we work together openly.

"However, in the opposition, you find PAS going this way, DAP that way and PKR is all about becoming the prime minister and hence, they have not proven their capabilities."

Mahathir added: "There is already a two-party system in Malaysia, but please do not give your vote to the opposition." 

He went on to warn the people not to trust the opposition, for it could bring destruction to the country.

"Bringing the opposition (into power), will be a mistake as it lacks cohesion, and bringing it in at the federal level will be a bigger mistake," he warned.