Indian loyalty: PKR leader lodges police report against Mahathir

Kuala Selangor PKR chief Thiban Subbramaniam has lodged a report against ex-premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad over his statement questioning the loyalty of Malaysian Indians to the country.

In the report, lodged at the Klang Selatan police headquarters, Thiban (above, centre) urged the police to investigate Mahathir’s statement, which he claimed could incite racial sentiments among Malaysians.

“The statement violates the Federal Constitution, which recognises the Indian and Chinese communities as Malaysians.

“I am afraid that Mahathir’s statement will threaten the harmony and unity of the country.

“I lodged the report so that the matter will be investigated to ensure that it does not cause tension among races,” he said.

Mahathir, who served as prime minister for 22 years from 1981 to 2003 and then 22 months from 2018 to 2020, claimed in an interview with Indian TV channel Thanthi TV that Malaysian Indians are not completely loyal to the country as they still identify with their country of origin.

He said one should identify as Malay to have the right to call the country their own.

“Malaysian Indians do not speak Malay as their native language, they speak Tamil (instead),” he said when the host asked if one can remain loyal to the country while committed to their roots.

The nonagenarian then said his “problem” is when “immigrants” (Indians and Chinese) call the country their own while professing their own cultures and customs.

Rude and prejudiced

PKR central leadership council member R Yuneswaran said Mahathir’s statement was rude and prejudiced, angering all Malaysians.

He said the non-Malays, including the Indian community, have been devoted and sacrificed a lot for Malaysia's prosperity, development, and progress.

“I watched the English interview myself which lasted about 30 minutes.

“As a patriotic Malaysian who fully upholds the sovereignty of the homeland raised by these various races, I was personally aggrieved, sad, and angry at the statement that came out of the mouth of the statesperson.

“He should be a sane figure in talking about unity, especially when it involves the sensitiveness of the Indian and Chinese communities.

“The ugly statement is an insult to the unity of Malaysia, which has been built on the values of undivided loyalty to this beloved country,” said the Segamat MP in a statement today.

Yuneswaran also felt that Mahathir’s expression towards the Indian community was a form of discrimination and could hinder unity.

“Representing various segments of the Indian community in the country, I demand Mahathir immediately apologise to all Malaysians, especially the Indian and Chinese communities who are deeply affected by his perspective and irrational perception of Malaysia which is indeed the land of unity that he led for over 23 years.

“Along with the unity minister’s stance, I would like to advise Mahathir and the hypocritical characters who have conspired with him not to arbitrarily issue any statement with racial discrimination.

“On the contrary, we as figures who represent the people in our respective capacities, need to be agents of reconciliation who always deliver positive words that can further bind the bonds of unity between races, religions, and ethnicities,” he added. - Mkini