Kit Siang quotes Dr M’s book to rebut views on multiculturalism

 

DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang says former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has proved to be quite a ‘political chameleon’. (Twitter pic)

PETALING JAYA: Lim Kit Siang has re-butted Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s views on the Federal Constitution and multiculturalism, with the DAP stalwart quoting an excerpt from the former prime minister’s book published in 2021.

Referring to Mahathir’s book, “Capturing Hope – The Struggle for a New Malaysia”, the former Gelang Patah MP quoted a paragraph in which Mahathir had taken a swipe at Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin when he alluded to “those who desire to be seen as Malay-first…and this enabled them to promote a Malay-Muslim government.”

Muhyiddin, the then deputy prime minister, had in 2010 declared he was “Malay first” when responding to Lim’s challenge to state whether he was Malay or Malaysian first.

Lim said that Mahathir had, in his book, stated that it was impossible to set up a Malay-Muslim government.

Mahathir had argued that this was because over 30% of the population comprised non-Malays.

The former Langkawi MP went on to say that the “Malay-Muslim government of Perikatan Nasional under Muhyiddin actually depended on non-Malays to survive”.

Lim then said: “But these are no more his views”.

On Monday, Mahathir claimed that promoting a multi-ethnic country went against the Federal Constitution.

Mahathir also questioned whether the current government is disregarding the rule of law as Malaysia was never described as a multi-ethnic nation in the Federal Constitution.

“Instead, the Federal Constitution emphasises the ‘Malayness’ of Malaysia,” he said.

Lim today said that Mahathir’s stance on the constitution differed when the latter announced Vision 2020 and its nine strategic challenges.

Back then, Lim said, Mahathir was of the view that the Malaysian Constitution was that of a multiracial Malaysia.

“Mahathir has proved to be quite a political chameleon.” - FMT