KUALA LUMPUR – A Selangor-based PAS non-Muslim wing will lodge a police report against former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, over the latter’s allegations that Malaysian Indians are not loyal to the nation.
P. Poobalan, the wing’s Hulu Langat youth chief, said the report will be lodged tomorrow.
In a statement, he also expressed his disappointment that a former leader of the nation would claim that non-Malays would be “less loyal”, a feeling he said is echoed by the whole community.
“Maybe (Dr Mahathir) has forgotten that when a Malaysian Indian or Chinese achieves something globally, they normally promote Malaysia as their country of origin,” he said.
Poobalan pointed out badminton legend Datuk Lee Chong Wei, as well as Malaysia’s first Mount Everest conquerors Datuk M. Magendran and Datuk N. Mohandas, had raised the Malaysian flag during their successes.
“(Dr Mahathir) still does not understand the demographic of Malaysia’s Indian community, where most of them are less aware – or don’t even know – about their ancestors in India because of their love for Malaysia,” he added.
Previously, Dr Mahathir referred to Malaysian Indians and Chinese as immigrants in an interview with Thanthi TV, claiming that they should not call themselves Malaysians unless they identify as Malays.
He also alleged that 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 twice-former prime minister considered it a “problem” when “immigrants” (Indians and Chinese) claimed the country as their own while practising their own cultures and customs.
His comments drew flak from various government leaders, including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, for touching on the sensitivities of race and religion. — January 17, 2024