Mahathir: Guan Eng is not 'anti-Malay'

Lim Guan Eng's conduct as finance minister did not show he was "anti-Malay", said former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

In an interview with Sinar Harian, Mahathir said he was aware of a campaign for a "Malay government" which portrayed him as being under Lim's thumb.

"That seems to be accepted by the public. The truth is, Lim follows (my instructions) and his conduct did not show he was anti-Malay," said the former prime minister.

Pakatan Harapan's opponents had often described it as a DAP-controlled coalition, which was anti-Malay.

Not working with DAP, was allegedly one of the catalysts why Muhyiddin Yassin's faction in Bersatu broke away from Harapan to form the now-ruling Perikatan Nasional coalition with Umno and PAS.

Mahathir said during Lim's tenure as finance minister, he allocated millions to Malay-majority states including those not under Harapan.

"He gave RM400 million as a one-off to Kelantan, RM200 million to Terengganu, RM200 million to Kedah, and I also remember that he gave to Perlis.

"These are all Malay areas. They are not under Harapan, but he gave. There was much more we asked for so that the Malays are prioritised, and he gave it (too)," he said.

Mahathir said Lim would also allow him and his advisors to go over any new policies being crafted, including Budget 2020.

If it sided too much with DAP, they would object and correct it, while ensuring everyone got a share of the Budget.

However, Mahathir said some, like his political secretary, did not agree with this.

"If we give RM1 billion to Malays, can't we give RM100 million to the Chinese or 1/10th?

"But many of those who went through (the Budget) felt nothing should be given to the Chinese. That's not right. I couldn't accept it.

"That is why in the Bersatu supreme council, my views were rejected by my political secretary, and I was defeated," Mahathir said.

The last remark is believed to be about a Bersatu supreme council meeting on Feb 23, the day of the Sheraton Move.

Mahathir said the political secretary, which he did not name, was among the ones who instigated the Bersatu supreme council into supporting a move to bring the party out of Harapan.

Asked about the differences of opinion between him and his aide, Mahathir said this stemmed from some legal troubles the political secretary had.

"He has a problem with the court. He asked that I stop the court from trying his case. I can't do that. So he became really against me," Mahathir said.

Malaysiakini has contacted the political secretary for comment. - Mkini