Analyst refutes Mahathir’s claim Malays losing power

 

Analyst James Chin said if the Malays are weak now, it is because Dr Mahathir Mohamad did not establish the groundwork and foundation for them when he helmed the country for 24 years.

PETALING JAYA: 

An analyst has challenged Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s claim that Malays have been gradually deprived of their rights and will “lose all their power” under the current government.

Earlier today, the former prime minister and several Perikatan Nasional leaders said they have joined forces to oppose a “common enemy” of the Malays.

In a Facebook post, University of Tasmania’s James Chin noted that Malays have consistently controlled major state institutions and political positions since independence. He suggested that any loss of influence is tied to their effectiveness in these roles, and not external threats.

James Chin.

Chin also said any perception Mahathir may have about a loss of power for the Malays should be tempered by the fact that the two-time prime minister helmed the country for 24 years.

“If the Malays are weak now, isn’t it because he (Mahathir) didn’t establish the groundwork and foundation for them? Why is he blaming the enemy of the Malays?” he said.

“If Malays are losing power, isn’t it because the Malays appointed to all these key institutions didn’t perform their part?

“Malays have privileged access to higher education, their own university, and a variety of other advantages like housing discounts. Is this under threat?”

Chin said that while Mahathir did not specify which “common enemy” he was referring to, history suggests the 99-year-old was referring to the country’s Chinese community.

He stressed that while the Chinese are not an existential threat to Malay political power, they are framed as such within a political narrative that emphasises ethnicity and dominance.

He said this perception of being threatened often arises from the fear of diluting Malay political and cultural dominance, rather than from an actual capability to overthrow or significantly alter the established political order.

Chin said the country’s biggest challenge lies in navigating towards a political system where all ethnic groups feel represented and empowered without stoking racial tensions or diminishing the cultural identity of any group, including the Malays.

“This involves rethinking the political narrative around ethnicity and embracing a more inclusive form of governance,” he said. - FMT