Mahathir: Malaysiakini and DAP are racists

The Perkasa patron says he would stop fuelling sentiments if others would.

KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today accused online portal Malaysiakini and DAP as extremists who are responsible for the increased level of racism in Malaysia.

“Malaysiakini and DAP are racists. They only think of one race. They are the real racists, they have been raising the racist issue a lot,” said Mahathir at a press conference here following the launching of a coffee table book entitled Antarctica: Malaysia’s Journey to the Ice.

He also responded to MIC strategy director S Vell Paari’s statement urging him to stop raising racist sentiments over claims on citizenship rights.

Mahathir, who is the patron of the Malay rights group Perkasa, said he would heed Vell Paari’s call if others would quit their racist taunts.

“I will stop if and when others stop,” he said. “I said all those things because I felt bound to reply to racist sentiments made by extremists.”

Referring to Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s penchant for doling out aid to various sectors of society, Mahathir defended him against charges of vote buying.

“That is his right,” he said. “During my time, there was no money. Now the government is rich. Malayan Banking Berhad itself recorded a profit of 6 billion ringgit. And they are taxed 28%.”

He also once again admitted to granting citizenship to foreigners under the controversial Project IC.

“I admit we gave citizenship to people who lived in Sabah for a considerable amount of time,” he said. “However, whatever happened on the ground, I am not responsible for it.”

He also said the new citizens did not necessarily vote for BN.

“Those people who got ICs were not necessarily supporters of BN. They could vote for whomever they liked. They were not forced to vote for BN. Otherwise how did PBS win the election in 1990?”