Malays allowing themselves to be colonised again

Malaysiakini
Bede Hong
Mar 29, 07 10:12pm
Dr Mahathir Mohamad stepped up his criticisms against the Pak Lah Administration today by saying that the Malaysian government is bowing out to Singapore's demands, and that leaders would rather play golf to appease foreigners than defend the country's sovereignty.
Stating that Johor is losing its independence by allowing the free trade Iskandar Development Region to continue, he said Malays are allowing themselves to be colonised by foreign powers again, this time by the Israelis.
The former premier's main contention was the government greenlighting the free trade area, which allows land ownership by foreign companies. He said Singapore would take advantage of such a situation.
“Foreigners can come in without using their passports. They can build skyscrapers which could be owned by anyone,” he said during a public forum organised by Umno Kulai Besar branch. This was his first Umno-invited function of the year.
“Who would come in? We all know that Singapore would. Even the Israelis can come in. They have an embassy in Singapore ... They call me anti-Semitic, but it is a fact that anyone can come in,” he said to an audience of 500. The forum was entitled “Malay leadership in the era of globalisation.”
He said if Singapore had been mostly populated by Malays, there might not have been secession.
“Who knows what would have transpired in the event that the island was populated mostly by Malays ... Now we are surrendering this area to people who can enter without using passports,” he said in his two-hour speech which was also spiced with humour.
Mahathir said the Malays are under threat of becoming “enslaved” to foreign powers yet again.
“I am not using racialism, but if we surrender our rights, who would come stand for us. Who can we depend on but ourselves,” he explained.
He said Malaysia is losing its sovereignty over Johor and that the country's administrators are afraid of “foreigners.”
“People have said I voiced my concern because the bridge is my pet project. My baby. Yang mana bukan saya punyan projek (Which is not my pet project?). I have been in office 22 years, a lot has been done,” he said.
Why bridge a necessity
The former premier explained that the bridge is a necessity because of increasing traffic over the causeway.
“The number of cars are not going to decrease. We have to plan ahead before it becomes a problem. The causeway was constructed in 1927 ... I'm not sure but I think by now there are a little bit more cars moving across the bridge,” he said.
He said he had sought co-operation from Singapore over the bridge issue, but in vain.
“Twenty-two years in office .. mereka (Singapore) tak layan kita (They never entertained us). Saya pun tepuk belakang (I also pat people in the back). He's (former prime minister Goh Chok Tong) is quite tall.
“But I didn't play golf. I don't know how to play golf. We never came to hugging though,” he said.
“Now because we are afraid of them (Singapore), we play golf and pat them in the back,” he added.
Mahathir pointed out that the bridge would allow ships to move from Pasir Gudang Port to the Tanjung Pelepas Port.
“Even the water can pass through which would clear up the straits,” he said.
“If Tunku (Abdul Rahman) were alive today, he would feel utterly disappointed because we gave up our sovereignty,” he said.
Mahathir said the cost of the Centre of Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) had shot from RM800 million to RM1.4 billion.
“It is an increase of RM600 million in cost. This is an example of mismanagement. This is how we save our money,” he said.
'We have the money'
Later, the former premier also defended the move for increased government expenditure during his tenure.
“The money is there for a purpose. If we just kept the money under a pillow, its value would depreciate eventually,” he said.
If the money was not spend on development, he said, “would you prefer us to build houses on tree tops? We can save a lot of money that way, but we would be living in the jungle.”
“Believe me, we have the money. From oil,” he said, citing Petronas' profit of RM86 billion this year.
He said the Malays were colonised for 450 years because they did not question the sultanate.
“Whatever the King decreed, we just resigned ourselves to it.”
He rehashed Malay politics from the end of World War II onwards, crediting much of the country's progress towards independence to Umno politicians such as Onn Jaafar, Nik Ahmad Kamil and Tunku Abdul Rahman.
He said Umno fought the formation of the Malayan Union because of the public support.
“People deserve the government they get,” Mahathir added.
Bad economy: Chinese may 'return' to China
Where do you think Malaysian Chinese would go if the economy does not improve?
As far as Dr Mahathir Mohamad is concerned, they will 'return' to China where a rebust economy is at work.
The former premier said this when commenting on the lackluster Malaysian economy which has produced grumblings among Umno grassroots for the lack of projects
A poor economy produces many unforseen consequences, which include the brain drain and migration of non-Malays overseas, he cautioned.
“I know for the Malays, this might be unpleasant to hear ... but if they (Chinese and Indians) do not enjoy the benefits, something might happen which we have to consider.”
He said many Chinese businessmen have made their fortunes in China.
“There are many opportunities they found in China, and the expertise (from Malaysia) is brought there. In the past they came to Malaysia because there were no opportunities (in mainland China). If there are little or no opportunities here, some would return to China,” he said.
The former premier mentioned close associates who have settled down abroad: “Their children will grow up and not identify themselves as Malaysians.”
“Who would take their place? Who would run the shops and businesses. I come here to Kulai, and I see most of the shops here are run by Chinese. Are the Malays ready to take over should they leave?” he asked to voices of 'no' in response.
Nasi Kandar in Perth
Mahathir also made a cryptic attack on Pak Lah, stating that the prime minister had left the country while Johor was flooded.
“Some leaders, they boast, oh my son is rich ... They talk about their AUD25 million home. That's RM60 million. So strange, to have such a big house ... and there's no nasi lemak to be had. And we have a leader who went all the way to Perth to attend his brother's opening of a ... what ... nasi kandar restaurant.”
“Between being in the country when it is in turmoil and overseeing at the opening of a nasi kandar restaurant, which is more important? Tentulah nasi kandar (Of course, nasi kandar!)," he said sarcastically.
He also attacked former ACA officer Mohd Ramli Manan: “He thinks that I cold- storaged him for six years ... Well I think he is a kaki rasuah (corrupt person) ... that's what I think lah.”
Mahathir said corruption index has risen and that crime has also gone up.
“Corruption was a problem that the administration had pledged to eradicate .. and yet you see it rise .. we have gone up in the international corruption index.”
“It's now not just a matter of what they want to snatch from you. You can lose you life, nowadays ... You have mothers killing babies,” he said.
Umno Youth loses direction
the media
Mahathir also spoke on a change of his reading habits since being “censored” by the media.
“I no longer read the New Straits Times. I still read Utusan (Malaysia), although everything is negative in there now.
“I now read the Star. Their circulation is double that of NST you know? More than NST, which was the premier English newspaper. Now it has dropped.”
“I can't blame them, because of the management ... Kalimullah (NST deputy chairperson) yang cukup bijak (Kalimullah is very smart).
"He's angry at me ... but I was just confused about his name because it is a mix of a Hindu god and a Muslim cleric. Kali ... Mullah,” he added in jest.
At a question-and-answer session later, Mahathir said Umno Youth has lost its direction.
“They have not taken the Afta (American Free Trade Act) discussions seriously.”
“It is not merely a case of making demonstrations in front of the US Embassy (protesting the (month-long) Israel-Lebanese war) which was planned ahead anyway. We want Umno youths to be activists ... to fight for and protect Malay rights,” added the former Umno president.