Mahathir said Malays will become "slaves"
- From: lobert <lobert@xxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 30 Mar 2007 17:55:29 +0800
How long it takes for the Malay to stand up?
http://www.todayonline.com/articles/180486.asp
Mahathir slams southern Johor plans
Fawziah Selamat in Kulai, Johor
fawziah@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
..
Malaysia's former Premier Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday that ethnic Malays in
Johor would become "slaves" in their own country if the government went ahead
with its plan to scrap affirmative-action policies that favour Malays.
..
Dr Mahathir ― who was making his first political speech after a five-month
hiatus forced by ill-health ― said opening up the Iskandar Development Region
(IDR) to foreigners, without making special concessions to Malays, would result
in foreigners running the country.
The government recently announced a slew of measures to attract investors,
especially Singaporeans, to set up industries at the special economic zone in
southern Johor. This includes scrapping the bumiputera policy, which gives
Malays an edge in business, education and employment.
"If we surrender our territory to foreigners we will lose our rights to
foreigners," Dr Mahathir said, adding that the country's Malay majority will not
be able to compete with the foreigners who will come equipped with better
business skills, money and government incentives.
Dr Mahathir asked if Malays were willing to become "slaves" in their own land by
becoming drivers and servants to foreigners in the special economic zone.
"Without a quota for Malays (in the IDR), companies will be fully owned by
outsiders," he said. "Perhaps it's easier to allow foreigners who are more
efficient and competent to come into Malaysia and develop our country, but that
would make Malaysia no longer our own."
Taking a swipe at Singapore, he said: "If we give (our land) to outsiders, it'll
be dotted with skyscrapers ... Because we don't have money, we sell our land."
"Then, when land prices get too expensive, we won't be able to afford to live in
the cities and we'll be pushed further and further to the fringes, ending up in
the jungles," he added.
The ex-Premier ― who has been on a year-long campaign against Prime Minister
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi ― was speaking to a crowd of 300 at an event organised by
the ruling United Malays National Organisation (Umno) in Kulai, a small town of
palm oil traders in Johor.
Since last year, Dr Mahathir has been extremely critical of Mr Abdullah,
describing him as "slow" and "ineffective".
"The new Tun is telling us we shouldn't be afraid (of these new measures) but
.... I don't think (the Malays) are ready for competition from outside," said Mr
Mahathir, referring to current administration policies driven by Mr Abdullah
Ahmad Badawi.
The lack of restriction on foreign ownership of companies in the IDR will also
result in an influx of Singaporeans into the region, Dr Mahathir warned in a
speech loaded with barbs aimed at Malaysian leaders ― whom he described as
sell-outs ― and at Singapore, a country that he claimed has been less than
helpful during his 22 years in politics.
"These people will be allowed to build skyscrapers and companies can be fully
owned by them. Who are they? Of course, they would be the Singaporeans, not
Johoreans," he said
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