Dr Mahathir defends ‘Malays are lazy’ remark, says they prefer to be Mat Rempit

Tun Dr Mahahthir Mohamad says the Malays prefer to become Mat Rempit than to study. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, September 14, 2014.

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad defended his criticism of Malays, admitting that he was ashamed that they had been left behind by the forward-thinking Chinese community.

Malaysia's longest-serving prime minister said the Malays were still lazy, citing the gender imbalance at institutions of higher learning where the majority was women.

"The Malays are lazy, they are not interested in studying and revising. If we go to the universities, 70% of the students are women, where are the men?"

"They prefer to become Mat Rempit, that is why I said they are lazy," Dr Mahathir told Umno mouthopiece Utusan Malaysia in an exclusive interview published today.

Earlier this week when launching a book, Dr Mahathir had lamented that Malays do not feel ashamed of failures anymore.

He had admitted that he failed to change the mentality of the Malays in his 22 years as prime minister.

"I spend 22 years trying to change the Malays but I admit I failed. However, there are a few success stories," he said in his remarks after launching a book by Anas Zubedy on Thursday.

"If anyone asks me today, I would have to say Malays are lazy," he had said.

Dr Mahathir said although the Malays had been awarded places in institutions of higher learning, but they did not make full use of their time to focus on their studies.

"I am ashamed when I see the Chinese students studying three different languages but still have a better grasp of the English language compared to their Malay peers.

"The Malays study two languages, Bahasa Malaysia and English, but they keep saying all right, that is enough, no need to learn English anymore."

Dr Mahathir was referring to Putrajaya's decision to abolish the teaching of Science and Mathematics in English, which he had introduced in 2003.

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- TMI