KUALA LUMPUR: DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng today criticised Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for questioning Indian Malaysians' patriotism in the country.
He said it is inappropriate for Dr Mahathir, who had previously endorsed the idea of a "Malaysian race", to say something unbecoming of a former premier. Lim claimed the racial remark made the 98-year-old seem like a person who had lost support from the masses and was desperate to regain it.
He said it was clear that it was politically motivated because of his failure and has chosen an extremist, racist and dangerous path to obtain support.
"It is not only extreme but dangerous, coming from a prime minister who has preached of fostering a Malaysian race, a Malaysian nation," said the Bagan member of parliament.
Lim was responding to Dr Mahathir's remarks in an interview with Thanthi TV, an Indian TV channel, aired on Jan 11.
The two-time prime minister during the interview had questioned the loyalty of Indians and Chinese, saying that they were not completely loyal to Malaysia.
He insisted that a citizen must identify as Malay to be considered Malaysian.
Dr Mahathir has been a vocal proponent of assimilating minorities to become Malays so the country can be monoethnic after he joined Parti Bumiputera Perkasa Malaysia led by Datuk Ibrahim Ali.
Lim said Dr Mahathir has also adopted tactics of his former Pas adversaries since becoming the adviser for four Perikatan Nasional state governments.
"He and (Pas president) Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang share the same political and ideological output of using race and religion to target minorities for their own political gains," he said, adding that such tactics only threaten Malaysia's unity and harmony.
Lim asked whether Dr Mahathir was dispossessing nearly 45 per cent of Malaysians from their right to heritage of Malaysia as their country.
"We know the sacrifices made by Malaysian Indians. We know so many Indians served in the army, railways and police, why does he not recognise their sacrifices and contributions?" he questioned in the video recording made available to the media today.
Lim said Dr Mahathir's unacceptable racial remarks also denied Kadazandusun, Iban, Melanau, and Orang Asli their rights as citizens if they needed to be Malay to consider Malaysia their homeland.
He said Dr Mahathir and Hadi should also read the Federal Constitution properly and stop targeting the non-Muslims and non-Bumiputera in this country.He also urged Malaysians to unite in condemning the rising dangerous politics.