Where’s the proof that Malays give up easily, asks Rafizi

PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli says there is no historical data to back claims that Malays give up easily.

PETALING JAYA: Rafizi Ramli today questioned the perception that Malays gave up easily and were prone to taking the easy way out as the community had never endured a tragedy that made them more resilient.

In a Facebook post, the PKR vice-president said the Chinese, meanwhile, were perceived otherwise due to the fact that the community had coped with various calamities in its 4,000-year-old civilisation.

One of these included the death of 50 million Chinese nationals in a span of a few years, he said.

These tragedies, he said, were believed to have helped the Chinese community forge their identity and ensured their survival, compared to the Malay culture which was deemed to be calmer and to concede easily to avoid conflict.

“But are such perceptions correct?

“What are the arguments and historical facts to support or dispute such matters?”

The former Pandan MP said there were several perceptions that could explain the Malay community, especially when it came to their attitude and background.

Rafizi’s post comes a day after Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad again criticised the Malays, accusing them of being lazy and taking the easy way out.

Speaking to PPBM Youth delegates last night, Mahathir, who is also party chairman, said this is the reality being faced by the community now in many fields, but especially when it comes to the economy.

“Why? Why are others successful and we are not? Yes, we can blame others for stopping us and cheating us, but others will not correct themselves for us to succeed. Only we can help ourselves to succeed,” he said.

He said Malays only had themselves to blame for the predicament they are in now, pointing out that the community has not made efforts, even though many opportunities have been given to them. - FMT