ID :
207631
Sat, 09/17/2011 - 06:26
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/207631
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NOT ALL DEMANDS OF VARIOUS RACES CAN BE MET: EX-MALAYSIA PM MAHATHIR
KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama) - Former prime minister Dr Mahathir
Mohamad said on Friday the various races in the country must accept the fact that not all their claims can be fulfilled by the government.
He said that if all the races accept this fact, the country would continue to remain peaceful and enjoy rapid economic development.
He said if any race wants its demands to be fulfilled then it would
indirectly deny the other races their rights, thus creating unhealthy
competition among them.
"I feel administering a multi-racial country is different from a homogeneous country because there will certainly be demands made by the various races.
"In order to ensure peace in Malaysia, each race must accept the fact that not all 100 per cent of their demands can be entertained. If they insist on getting all their demands met, then this would deny the other races of their rights," he said in the programme "Bicara Negarawan Bersama Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad" which was aired by state-owned broadcaster RTM1.
His remarks came in response to a question on the openness introduced by the government after the 2004 general election which resulted in several groups openly demanding equal rights.
The three-member panel in the programme comprised national news agency Bernama editor-in-chief Yong Soo Heong, Utusan Group assistant chief editor I Zaini Hassan and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak lecturer Dr Jeniri Amir.
According to Dr Mahathir, Malaysia is one of the nations that have granted freedom to all races in the country to use their own language besides the national language in schools.
He said the freedom was given in order to respect the wishes of certain groups to continue using their own language in schools.
Meanwhile, the former prime minister said issues concerning claims of equality could be corrected by giving the various races in the country a better understanding of the principles that have been practised since the formation of Malaysia.
"When living in a multi-racial country, we have to accept the fact that we cannot obtain everything that we consider as our right," he said.
Asked on the component parties of ruling coalition Barisan Nasional that are currently not so active, Dr Mahathir said they should get down on the ground and try to get closer to the grassroots by resolving the problems faced by the people.
In addition, he said, the people must also realise that after 50 years of independence the cooperative spirit of component parties has created the best environment currently enjoyed by the people.
"We must remember that the coalition government has cooperated for 50 years and that this government has brought success to Malaysia, more so than other goverments.
"Thus we shouldn't reject the system that has brought us success compared to one that is unfamiliar to us," he said.
On another matter, he said the choice of winnable candidates in the coming general election will depend on the evaluation and opinion of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his advisors, but noted the decision could go against the wishes of the party and certain candidates could be sabotaged in the election.
Asked on the appropriate time for the election, Dr Mahathir said: "Later will be all right. This will give time for Najib to make an assessment on who should be the candidates."
Mohamad said on Friday the various races in the country must accept the fact that not all their claims can be fulfilled by the government.
He said that if all the races accept this fact, the country would continue to remain peaceful and enjoy rapid economic development.
He said if any race wants its demands to be fulfilled then it would
indirectly deny the other races their rights, thus creating unhealthy
competition among them.
"I feel administering a multi-racial country is different from a homogeneous country because there will certainly be demands made by the various races.
"In order to ensure peace in Malaysia, each race must accept the fact that not all 100 per cent of their demands can be entertained. If they insist on getting all their demands met, then this would deny the other races of their rights," he said in the programme "Bicara Negarawan Bersama Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad" which was aired by state-owned broadcaster RTM1.
His remarks came in response to a question on the openness introduced by the government after the 2004 general election which resulted in several groups openly demanding equal rights.
The three-member panel in the programme comprised national news agency Bernama editor-in-chief Yong Soo Heong, Utusan Group assistant chief editor I Zaini Hassan and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak lecturer Dr Jeniri Amir.
According to Dr Mahathir, Malaysia is one of the nations that have granted freedom to all races in the country to use their own language besides the national language in schools.
He said the freedom was given in order to respect the wishes of certain groups to continue using their own language in schools.
Meanwhile, the former prime minister said issues concerning claims of equality could be corrected by giving the various races in the country a better understanding of the principles that have been practised since the formation of Malaysia.
"When living in a multi-racial country, we have to accept the fact that we cannot obtain everything that we consider as our right," he said.
Asked on the component parties of ruling coalition Barisan Nasional that are currently not so active, Dr Mahathir said they should get down on the ground and try to get closer to the grassroots by resolving the problems faced by the people.
In addition, he said, the people must also realise that after 50 years of independence the cooperative spirit of component parties has created the best environment currently enjoyed by the people.
"We must remember that the coalition government has cooperated for 50 years and that this government has brought success to Malaysia, more so than other goverments.
"Thus we shouldn't reject the system that has brought us success compared to one that is unfamiliar to us," he said.
On another matter, he said the choice of winnable candidates in the coming general election will depend on the evaluation and opinion of Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak and his advisors, but noted the decision could go against the wishes of the party and certain candidates could be sabotaged in the election.
Asked on the appropriate time for the election, Dr Mahathir said: "Later will be all right. This will give time for Najib to make an assessment on who should be the candidates."
