By Debra Chong
The Malaysian Insider
April 11, 2013
KUALA LUMPUR, April 11 – A Lim Kit Siang win in Gelang Patah will result in racial confrontation, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today, arguing that Chinese-Malay economic partnership will be ruined.
With weeks left to Election 2013, the former prime minister continued his doomsday prediction by hammering on the opposition leader with his warning that Lim’s victory in the southern state would trigger racial clashes that would replace the existing cooperation between the Malay majority and Chinese community.
“Kit Siang is going to bring about conflict and antagonism between the races, to wage the Chinese to dislike and hate the Malays,” Dr Mahathir wrote in his chedet.cc blog.
The 87-year-old Dr Mahathir has become a de facto campaigner-in-chief for the Barisan Nasional (BN), going on the stump with the vigour of a much younger man as the 13-party coalition faces what is seen as its stiffest challenge ever from the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact.
The Johor-born Lim has been bearing the brunt of Dr Mahathir’s attacks ever since announcing his plan to battle BN on its home turf – the birthplace of its anchor party Umno and the last standing home of Chinese partner, MCA.
Dr Mahathir has been relentless in chipping away at the predominantly Chinese DAP’s credentials to share power with its political allies, whether the Islamist PAS or the urban-based PKR led by his former deputy, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He pounded on the DAP’s “Malaysian Malaysia” slogan purportedly championing raceless meritocracy, saying it was inherited from the Singapore-based PAP – which is now the republic’s ruling party – and a stealth tactic to weaken the Malay influence.
“When Kit Siang decided to contest in Chinese majority Gelang Patah it is because he wanted the Chinese there and in Johor to reject working together and sharing with the Malays.
“An unhealthy racial confrontation would replace Sino-Malay cooperation which has made Malaysia stable and prosperous.”
He added, “That cooperation will end when Kit Siang wins Gelang Patah.”
The fourth prime minister, who had been Lim’s main adversary in Parliament during his 22 years in office, said that even if violent clashes did not happen, a “confrontation between the three major races” would prove disruptive to the country’s development.
“For this reason the decision of Kit Siang to contest in Gelang Patah will be the focus of the 13th General Election in this country.
“Will the DAP end Malay-Chinese friendship and cooperation in Johor or will “kongsi” remain the bases of race relations in Johor and in Malaysia?” he asked.
Malays make up about 60 per cent of Malaysia’s 28 million population, while the minority Chinese make up slightly more than a quarter and are seen as an influential vote group.
Lim, who is leading the DAP’s charge in Johor, is banking on launching a political tsunami from the south, targeting at least one-third of the 83 parliamentary seats for PR in BN fortresses in Johor, Sabah and Sarawak.
An incumbent in the Ipoh Timor seat in Perak, the 72-year-old was recently announced as the PR candidate in Johor’s Gelang Patah, a strategic move by the opposition in its bid to wipe out as many MCA-held seats as possible in the southern state.
PR is said to be on its best election footing yet to end BN’s half-century rule in Malaysia, having grown greatly in strength and in numbers since its harried formation after Election 2008.
A total of 222 parliamentary and 505 state seats are up for grabs.
Some 13.3 million voters, including 5,200 abroad, are eligible to cast their ballots in Election 2013 to elect lawmakers in 222 federal and 505 state seats in 12 states. Sarawak already held its state elections in 2011.
The Election Commission announced yesterday that the 13th general election will be held on May 5, and nomination day falls on April 20, which will signal the start of formal electoral campaigns that will last 15 days.
Dr M is the one who brings about conflict and antagonism between the races, not Kit Siang.
Appears that UMNO is hesitating – dissapointingly. Now that we know the reasoning behind their plan, the opportunity arise to disprove it. Their hold theory rests on not being able to secure more than 10% Malay vote and 30% of he Indian vote. If LKS can get to just that much higher, it completely disproves Mahathir. What an opportunity to disprove Mahathirism…
The rakyat will celebrate big time if Kit Siang Wins… Celebrating the beginning of the quest in sending this mamak to jail.
Well, Malay-Chinese corrupt economic cooperation will be ruined. That is true..Is that something wrong with that?
It is time we put ALL CORRUPT economic cooperation among cronies into RUIN.
Only then will Malaysians enjoy great economic success.
Current UMNO is not the Malaysia 1st Prime Minister UMNO
Current UMNO is Mama UMNO…UMNO BARU pretend to be UMNO to deceive Malaysian
This Mama is an enemy of Malaysia 1st Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman
IbAliPerkasa failed, now the boss has to come out to work, this may confuse aho very much.
Dear Mr Lim,
I would like to suggest that you put up the poster of a Malay young man helping a Chinese young man by pouring water on the Chinese young man’s face to get rid of the Chemical water/tear gas in Bersih 3.0 to counter this argument by Mahathir.
It’s very dangerous that Dr M tries to incite racial hatred!!!
The politics of race and religion had worked very well for decades to divide the people for self serving, immoral and greedy leaders/politicians to grossly enrich themselves, families and friends.
This former PM do not care what happened to the ordinary people and country.
This old man, he played one,
He played knick-knack on my thumb;
With a knick-knack paddywhack,
Give the dog a bone,
This old man came rolling home.
This old man, he played two,
He played knick-knack on my shoe;
With a knick-knack paddywhack,
Give the dog a bone,
Kit Siang will still be co-operating with Malays and Indians after he wins Gelang Patah because PAS and Keadilan are mainly Malay parties. Did this fact elude Dr. Mahatir?
i stay in jb
even now taxi drivers talks politics when you hop in, and change is coming
Dapter must support ONE National school for Malaysia , and ONE National language
Umnoputras must send their children to the 1National schools, and study with the 1National language.
BN especially UMNO is the one that created the mess in the education system of the country
PR must win and will win, not only in Gelang Patah but in every state and every seat that they are going to contest.
Because having the Devils in the government will spell doom for this country and its people.
Why should they face doom when they can grow and prosper in a country blessed with so much natural resources?
The only unfortunate curse that befall this country and Malaysians is the evil, god-forsaken ruling party!
And after five over decades of their curse, Malaysians are fully prepared to wipe them out!
They won’t be around to cast any more shadows in this country!
only silly old cunning fox like him will give such nonsensical talk !
Is this a blackmail?