Gov't defends Malays without chest-thumping, unlike rivals - PM

The Pakatan Harapan government is committed to safeguarding the interests of the Malays, but does this without fanfare, unlike its political rivals, according to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“We are also looking after the interests of the Malays. Except that we don't shout about it.

"They (Umno and PAS) are trying to separate the Malays from other races. That is very bad for a multiracial country," he told reporters in Parliament today.

Mahathir was asked about the possible swing of Malay support for the Umno and PAS alliance, which brings together two of the nation's biggest Malay-Muslim political parties.

Umno and PAS have accused the Harapan government of failing to protect the interests of the Malays and Islam.

Mahathir said his administration is not only committed to looking after the interests of the Malays but to maintain fairness between all races as well.

"Our relations must be fair and equal. Not just equal without fairness.

"So we will look after the interests of the Malays, and we have stated we want an equitable share in the wealth of this country," he added.

Ahead of Harapan's first year anniversary of forming the government, Mahathir also admitted that some members of his administration were still prone to say the wrong things which could lead to a negative image.

"I must admit some of us are very new. Sometimes we say things that may reflect badly about us," he said in response to criticisms from the government's media adviser A Kadir Jasin.

In a blog post today, Kadir (above) said the time has come for Harapan to weed out "clowns and comic characters" within its fold and restore the people's declining trust in the coalition as perceived from losses of the past two by-elections in Cameron Highlands and Semenyih respectively.

Mahathir also urged the people to give Harapan more time, pointing out that unlike BN's 60 years in power, the coalition had yet to reach even its first anniversary.

Asked for his advice to his cabinet members, Mahathir instead said part of the blame lay with the media who allegedly "provoked" ministers and deputy ministers to say the wrong things and catch their mistakes.

"Sometimes they are provoked by the press. And they answer.

"The press actually provokes them because the press thinks they are new and might make mistakes. That's the press business lah," he added.

Since BN's historic loss in the last 14th general election, former premier Najib Abdul Razak had emerged as one of Harapan's loudest critic, often highlighting conflicting statements made by various ministers on the same issue. - Mkini