PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been reminded that he himself is Malay and was raised under the same environment and as such, he should not be looking down on the community.
Selangor Barisan Nasional chairman Tan Sri Noh Omar said the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman's recent remarks in branding Malays as lazy were baseless and does not represent the whole Malay community.
"There are many aspects that we need to improve on, including inculcating the culture of placing importance on education because poverty should not be passed on from one generation to the next.
"Even though left behind, we will not abandon this group because our aim is to build a society in which there are no urban poor, as well as defend the Malay struggle and improve their livelihood.
"For example, the Chinese community is very generous and not all are rich, but they are willing to spend on their children's education. We should learn from this example," he said.
He said this was why the government has to continue to assist individuals with potentials, instead of blaming them and leaving them behind.
Noh, who spoke to reporters after launching My Beautiful Neighbourhood Social Transformation Programme earlier today, was commenting on Dr Mahathir's remarks that the culture and values held by Malays were the reason they were left behind.
The former prime minister was also quoted as saying that the Malays are "not so committed, not so hardworking and sometimes, we are not so trustworthy".
Noh said Dr Mahathir should also not forget that his son Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir, who is among the country's 10 richest businessmen, comes from the same racial group.
On another matter, Noh said PKR deputy president Datuk Seri Azmin Ali's offer to Dr Mahathir to contest the Gombak parliamentary seat was within his rights to do so.
"Maybe Azmin was disappointed that he was not named as Pakatan's PM-elect, so if he gives his parliamentary to Dr Mahathir, he can contest in another constituency and make his dream to become PM a reality if the Gombak seat falls to Barisan Nasional.
"What I see is that Pakatan is afraid of their own shadows, they only contest in the same seat not more than twice," he said.
Translated from Berita Harian