Mahathir: First thing I'll do if ever become PM again is abolish 3R
Former two-time prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad intends to abolish punishments on those who speak of 3R (race, religion and royalty) sentiments if he were to assume the role again.
Mahathir, who will turn 100 on July 10, said the measure is the "first thing" he will implement if he is given the chance to lead the nation again, as voices critical of his administration should not be silenced.
"I must know what...
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
14 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Some truth to Malays feeling sidelined, says Umno veteran
Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin, a former minister, says the government cannot avoid or ignore the proposed 'Malay unity' movement. PETALING JAYA : An Umno veteran says the unity government must look to regain the confidence of the Malays, following former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's latest effort to unite the Malays and 'restore their political power'. Former minister Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin said the government cannot avoid or ignore this movement as there was truth to the notion that the Malay community feels sidelined under the unity government. He added that Mahathir recognised this and was seeking to exploit it for his own political gain. 'Maybe it's merely a matter of perception or imagination (to some parties), but I think that there's truth to it (at the grassroots level). And something needs to be done to regain the confidence of the Malays. 'Whatever excuses we want to give, when you go to the grassroots, the reality is that many Malays feel sidelined, and Mahathir is exploiting that,' he told FMT. Raja Nong Chik claimed that, based on feedback he received, nine out of 10 of his close Malay peers have expressed concern about the fate of the community under the current administration. 'They worry for the future of the Malays, and these are highly-educated guys. We're not even talking about the grassroots level yet. 'However, this doesn't mean they will vote for the opposition just yet, it's just that they want some assurance (that the special privileges of the Malays would be safeguarded,' said the former Lembah Pantai Umno chief. The new Malay unity alliance was launched by Mahathir on Wednesday, with the backing of Perikatan Nasional's major components, PAS and Bersatu, as well as several Malay-based NGOs and academics. Mahathir, a former Umno president who later led Bersatu, Pejuang and Gerakan Tanah Air before leaving all three, said the alliance would not be a formal political party for now but a loose coalition to gather the Malays under one 'big umbrella'. Raja Nong Chik said the government led by Anwar Ibrahim must handle this new political threat wisely to ensure his administration retains the trust of the Malays.
Malaysiakini
a day ago
- Malaysiakini
Umno veterans tell Dr M to stop acting like a 'rogue hantu raya'
Umno Veterans Club has told Dr Mahathir Mohamad to stop playing the role of a 'rogue hantu raya' following his renewed push to unite the Malays under a new umbrella movement. Its secretary-general Mustapha Yaakub reminded the former premier that Umno members would not be deceived by the formation of a so-called Malay secretariat committee. 'Mahathir was the one who
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Free Malaysia Today
I've no issue with Dr M's Malay umbrella body, says Ramasamy
Urimai chairman P Ramasamy said former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's call for Malay unity reflects growing concerns over the country's unstable political and economic conditions. PETALING JAYA : Former Penang deputy chief minister P Ramasamy says there is nothing inherently wrong with Dr Mahathir Mohamad's plan to form a new umbrella organisation to protect and advance Malay rights, as long as it does not come at the expense of other ethnic communities. The Urimai chairman said the former prime minister's proposal would only become 'problematic' if such advocacy infringes upon the rights of other ethnic communities, such as the Chinese, Indians, and others. Noting that non-Malays make up 40% of the population in Peninsula Malaysia, he said it must be acknowledged that they also experience a 'deep sense of deprivation'. 'So far, there appears to be no fundamental quarrel with Mahathir's initiative, provided it respects the multicultural fabric of the nation,' Ramasamy said in a statement. 'They (non-Muslims) are not against Malays seeking their legitimate rights, as long as this does not translate into their own marginalisation.' He also suggested that Mahathir's call for Malay unity reflects growing concerns over the country's unstable political and economic conditions. However, Ramasamy said the struggle for rights in Malaysia must not be 'ethnically siloed'. 'Instead, it should be a common, inclusive quest for all Malaysians, regardless of race or religion, toward social, economic, and political justice.' He added that establishing a Malay-centric umbrella initiative should not be viewed as the end goal, but rather, an opportunity to imagine new, equitable frameworks for managing race relations in the country. Ramasamy was responding to a call by Mahathir for Malays to join his new unity alliance, which the latter said was aimed at saving the community from what he described as their political and economic decline. Mahathir said the group, which includes PAS and Bersatu, is not a political party but a coalition aimed at 'restoring Malay power' in the government.
