[UPDATED] Dr Mahathir gives police statement on ‘disloyal Indians’ remark

KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had his statement taken by police in relation to his “disloyal Indians” remark, this afternoon.

Three officers from the Bukit Aman police headquarters came to the Perdana Leadership Foundation and spent about an hour recording his statement.

At 4.05pm, they completed their questioning of Dr Mahathir’s remarks that he had made to Chennai-based Thanthi TV earlier this month.

Last night, Dr Mahathir’s lawyer, Mohd Rafique Rashid Ali, in a brief text message to Scoop, confirmed that officers from Bukit Aman will be meeting the former prime minister today.

The questioning is linked to his recent comments on the perceived “disloyalty” of members of the Malaysian Indian and Chinese communities, which have stirred public controversy.

This comes after dozens of police reports were lodged against Dr Mahathir over the matter.

Dr Mahathir, in the interview with Thanthi TV, not only referred to Malaysian Indians and Chinese as immigrants but also stated that they should not call themselves Malaysians unless they identify as Malays.

He also said Malaysian Indians do not speak Malay as their mother tongue, do not practice Malay culture, customs, or traditions, and thus should not refer to Malaysia as their home country.

The two-time prime minister considered it a “problem” when “immigrants” (Indians and Chinese) claimed the country as their own while practicing their own culture and customs.

Various leaders have strongly condemned Dr Mahathir’s remarks, noting the potential danger of inflaming racial tensions. – January 23, 2024