Dr M: Malays should fear 'pro-China PM' more than DAP

The Malays and Umno have more reasons to fear Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's reliance on China than DAP, according to Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The former premier said there was a likelihood that Malacca and Kuantan's new port facilities, approved by the Najib-administration, would be used by the Chinese military.

"A victory for Najib and Umno (in the next election) would bind Malaysia with China and Malaysia would no longer have a neutral foreign policy like before," he added in a blog post.

Mahathir had cited a Chinese writer, whom he did not name, as stating that the two ports would be used by the superpower's naval forces.

Malaysia and China are jointly developing a new deep sea port as part of the Malacca Gateway project. It is expected to begin operations in 2019.

Three Chinese companies - PowerChina International, Shenzhen Yantian Port Group and Rizhao Port Group - are involved in the deal.

In Kuantan, China is heavily invested in the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park as well as the Kuantan Port expansion project.

The East Coast Rail Link (ERCL) would eventually serve as a land bridge, linking the South China Sea to the Straits of Malacca, that would allow cargo shipments to bypass Singapore.

All these new projects were initiated by the Najib-administration.

DAP not seeking premiership

Meanwhile, Mahathir wrote that Najib and Umno leaders' frequent claim that DAP sought the prime minister or deputy prime minister's position was untrue.

He said even if DAP won every seat it contested, the party would not have the requisite numbers to control Parliament.

"Of the 222 seats in Parliament, only 52 are Chinese-majority. To form a government, DAP needs 111 seats. It is clear they will not have enough.

"However, they can be part of a coalition government, with less seats than the Malays, similar to MCA and Gerakan," he added.

Mahathir said other Pakatan Harapan parties would surely nominate a Malay candidate for prime minister, should the coalition win the next election.

"Our coalition cannot be dominated by DAP, except in Penang," he added.

Mahathir also questioned why Umno and their allies criticise DAP for being a "Chinese party" although it has non-Chinese lawmakers and leaders, whereas there was no criticism of MCA for being "100 percent Chinese".

"Although MCA had sought the position of 'Deputy Prime Minister II', it was not objected by Umno members or the Malays," he said.

In contrast, Mahathir noted that DAP had a more Malaysia flavour as their membership consists of Malays, Indians and natives of Sabah and Sarawak. He also noted that DAP uses the Malay language when holding key meetings.

Mahathir has changed his tone with regard to DAP ever since forming an alliance with the opposition.

In the past, he has repeatedly described DAP and its leader Lim Kit Siang as racists.- Mkini