Yet again, Dr M has caused a stir by saying that Malaysia is Tanah Melayu and belongs to the Malays. So, going by his own statement, Malaysia doesn't belong to the non-Malays.
These two past reports clearly show how Mahathir changes his opinions according to the situations - one when he was with the Indian Muslims, another when he was asked to comment on racist remarks made by special officer to the Prime Minister, Datuk Nasir Safar, during a 1Malaysia seminar in Malacca.
December 24, 2009 00:00 AM
PENANG, Dec 23 (Bernama) -- Everyone in Malaysia have to set a side their origin country and start calling themselves Malaysians for the success of the 1Malaysia concept, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said.
The former prime minister said they had to put aside their origin country such as India or China and start calling themselves Malaysians.
"They must put aside their origin country and call themselves Malaysians for 1Malaysia to be successful," he said during an appreciation dinner with the Association of Muslim Kadayanallur here Wednesday.
Tun Mahathir called on the people to help realise the government's aspiration of strengthening racial unity and harmony in line with the 1Malaysia concept.
He said people in Thailand and Indonesia called themselves Thais and Indonesians respectively but this did not happen here.
To a claim that the Indian Muslims in the country had been neglected, he said they should choose to either become a Muslim or an Indian.
"The country is very liberal and I think they (Indian Muslims) will be accepted by all if they can pick either to become a Muslim or Indian.".
Tun Mahathir said there was no difference between the various races as everyone were Malaysians.
"The federal constitution also defined a Muslim very clearly. If they want to become a Muslim then just follow the constitution."
He said if Indian Muslims in the country still called themselves as such, others might think that they still had links to the origin country.
"The problem of Indian Muslims will be resolved if they can decide and choose to become either a Muslim or an Indian," he added.
-- BERNAMA
The former prime minister said they had to put aside their origin country such as India or China and start calling themselves Malaysians.
"They must put aside their origin country and call themselves Malaysians for 1Malaysia to be successful," he said during an appreciation dinner with the Association of Muslim Kadayanallur here Wednesday.
Tun Mahathir called on the people to help realise the government's aspiration of strengthening racial unity and harmony in line with the 1Malaysia concept.
He said people in Thailand and Indonesia called themselves Thais and Indonesians respectively but this did not happen here.
To a claim that the Indian Muslims in the country had been neglected, he said they should choose to either become a Muslim or an Indian.
"The country is very liberal and I think they (Indian Muslims) will be accepted by all if they can pick either to become a Muslim or Indian.".
Tun Mahathir said there was no difference between the various races as everyone were Malaysians.
"The federal constitution also defined a Muslim very clearly. If they want to become a Muslim then just follow the constitution."
He said if Indian Muslims in the country still called themselves as such, others might think that they still had links to the origin country.
"The problem of Indian Muslims will be resolved if they can decide and choose to become either a Muslim or an Indian," he added.
-- BERNAMA
Published: Wednesday February 3, 2010 MYT 12:51:00 PM
Don’t question non-Malays’ citizenship: Dr M
By IZATUN SHARI
PETALING JAYA: The citizenship of non-Malays in the country should never be questioned, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He said there was a provision in the Federal Constitution stating that while Malays were the indigenous people, non-Malays had their right to citizenship.
“That should not be questioned. We cannot banish our citizens now. The Constitution provides that you cannot take away citizenships,” he told reporters after opening the Malaysian Liver Foundation building at Ara Damansara here on Wednesday.
Dr Mahathir was asked to comment on the allegedly racist remarks made by special officer to the Prime Minister, Datuk Nasir Safar, during a 1Malaysia seminar in Malacca.
Nasir allegedly made some remarks about Indian and Chinese Malaysians being “immigrants” when referring to these communities and their feedback on certain government education policies, and he also allegedly threatened to revoke their citizenship.
“This is a very bad statement to make. Even if it’s true, we don’t say things like that. These people have been here all these years. They are in fact the descendants of the people who came here. They have not just arrived,” Dr Mahathir said.
He said that Malaysian citizens would remain citizens until they declare otherwise when they take up the citizenship of another country.
“In some countries, you can banish your own citizens, throw them into an island or somewhere; but here, we cannot do that. Once they are citizens, they will always be citizens until they themselves declare that they are not,” he added.
A statement from the Prime Minister’s office on Tuesday said that Nasir would tender his resignation over the incident and that his remarks did not reflect the views of the Prime Minister in any way.
It also said that Nasir apologised for any offence caused.
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