Stop old politics of division, Syed Saddiq tells Dr Mahathir

KUALA LUMPUR, June 28 — Malaysian United Democratic Alliance (Muda) president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman has called on Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to stop bringing up the old politics of division.

The Muar MP, in a Twitter post, said Malaysians, regardless of race and religion, love the country the same and that he knew no non-Malays wanted to change the country’s name.

This came after the former prime minister alleged that there were people “from other countries” who wanted to shift Malaysia from being a “tanah Melayu (land of the Malays)” to a multiracial country.

“Dear Tun, the old politics of division must stop. Malaysians, regardless of race and religion, love this country the same. They want to see Malaysia grow to become a developed country.

“Good jobs, good public transportation, good governance. I know absolutely no non-Malay today who wants to change our country’s name. I know many who call Malaysia their one and only HOME,” Syed Saddiq wrote in his Twitter post.

During a press conference held earlier today, Dr Mahathir also claimed that some non-Malays refused to recognise the Malays as the founders, locals and builders of the country.

“How arrogant are those who come here, whom we have made into citizens, to demand that the name of our country be changed, turned into a multiracial country?” he said during the press conference.

The former Langkawi MP also reportedly alleged that whenever the Malays spoke up about their struggles, they were immediately shut down and labelled as racist.

Dr Mahathir, who is former two-time prime minister, was questioned earlier this month by the police in relation to the “Malay Proclamation” campaign, which is suspected of being an activity detrimental to Malaysian democracy.

He was investigated under Section 124B of the Penal Code for committing an activity detrimental to parliamentary democracy.

Dr Mahathir has purported his “Malay Proclamation” to be an initiative to unite the Malay community by addressing 12 key problems they face and bridging the group’s political differences, despite his leading role in at least four Malay political parties so far.

Last month, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, as well Bersatu leaders such as Bersatu deputy president Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu and information chief Datuk Razali Idris, signed on to Dr Mahathir’s proclamation.

Dr Mahathir developed his proclamation after a humiliating defeat in the 15th general election, which saw he and all other Pejuang candidates losing their deposits after failing to receive the minimum number of votes.

In addition, he was also reportedly investigated for his statements, allegedly containing elements of contempt towards the royal institution, in which he purportedly said that the Malays cannot rely on the Malay Rulers to protect them.