Malaysia’s race-based reality – Singapore’s Lee is right, says Khalid Ibrahim

Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the demographic reality of the country means there would be little change in race-based policies even if Pakatan Rakyat (PR) captured Putrajaya.

In doing so, the leader of the richest state in Malaysia was agreeing with former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew who made the assertion in his new book, One Man’s View Of The World.

Khalid said Singapore’s first prime minister was realistic in his assessment of Malaysia’s political situation.

"He is telling the truth, because Malays make up 60% of the population, the political inclination would be to get the support of the Malays. Of course he could be cynical, by meaning that this does not adhere to best democratic practices," he said at the Selangor government’s Hari Raya open house in Shah Alam today.

Khalid said the reality was the structure of the country was race-based, but qualified that how that translated into equity for all was another matter.

In his book, Lee asserted that PR will not be able to do away with Malay supremacy. That the moment the bluff is called and it is handed full power to push ahead, it will either be torn apart from within or be paralysed by indecision.

“If it attempts to move in any meaningful way, PAS, a Malay Muslim party that will hold if not the majority of seats within the coalition, then at least a significant enough share to give it veto power, will block action in an instant.

“In doing so, PAS would be responding to the same electoral pressures that Umno faces from the Malay ground,” said Lee.

PR won 89 parliamentary seats, denying BN two-thirds control of parliament for the second consecutive election.

It also retained control of the two economic powerhouses of Selangor and Penang, and obtained 51% of the popular vote.

However, Khalid said Lee’s assumption that it would be impossible for BN leader and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to win the Chinese and Indian votes without losing the Malay votes is flawed.
"I dispute his hypothesis. If Prime Minister Najib addresses the problems of the rural folk, he will surely get the support of the Chinese, Indians and Malays,” he said.