PUTRAJAYA: The cause championed by Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (Bersatu) isn’t for the sake of the party, but for the Malays and Bumiputera in the context of a multi-cultural and multiracial nation, says Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
Speaking at the end of the party’s three-day annual general assembly, the Bersatu chairman said the party’s struggle is based on its unshakable belief in the importance of all Malaysians be on equal standing.
“What use is there if everyone is on equal footing at the start of the race, but we are left behind at the finish line?
“What we want is that, at the end of the struggle, we stand just as tall as everyone else, and sit just as low as all the other races in the country,” he said.
Addressing a packed crowd of more than 1,500 people at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) here, Dr Mahathir said there is no room for negotiation when it comes to defending the rights of the Malays and Bumiputera.
The party, he said, can adopt a ‘give and take’ attitude when it comes to other issues, such as his tenure as prime minister, but not when it comes to defending the interests of the Malays and Bumiputera.
“We are a party for the Malays and Bumiputera. Not just in name, but this party was formed for the Malays, whom we see now as having lost their protectors,” he said.
Dr Mahathir also took aim at detractors who accuse Bersatu as having putting Malay interests aside by working with its Pakatan Harapan (PH) component members.
“Do not accuse us of having forgotten about our race. Yes, we acknowledge the rights of other people.
“We are not thieves or robbers who seize other people’s properties. But we will not stand by and see our rights taken away by others,” he said, to a loud roar from the capacity crowd.
Bersatu, he said, has set the benchmark in terms of leading by example.
“We are the standard, and we are the example. If in the past we had spoken about leading by example, today Bersatu is the embodiment of this.”
Dr Mahathir also reiterated his oft-made point of the need for the Malays to take stock of themselves and improve themselves. Bersatu, he said, has taken it upon itself to shoulder the responsibility of correcting the Malays’ behaviour and attitude.
This need, he said, was borne by the fractured state of the Malays themselves.
"We are aware of current state of the Malays. Today, we are the poorest in a country that used to be ours.
"Malays make up 60 per cent (of the population), but we have reduced the percentage by splitting into three or four parties, leading us to become the minority and having to rely on others to determine our victory.
"The mistake lies not with Umno or Pas but the Malays themselves. When we were given power to help our race, we fought for more power and subsequently, weakened ourselves," he said.
Dr Mahathir also hit out at the notion that Bersatu, having won only 13 seats in the 14th general election, are ‘beggars’ within the PH coalition.
He said there were several factors which led to its relatively modest haul in GE14, such as the party being banned at the last minute, coupled with PH’s failure to be registered as an official entity. He said this led to Bersatu having to use the PKR logo, which confused some voters.
“Despite these challenges, we took on 52 seats which we knew were tough. We didn’t beg for easy seats. We accepted what was given to us and used it to full effect. I’m certain that we played a deciding role in shaping PH’s victory,” he said.
Dr Mahathir livened up the mood when he teased some of Bersatu’s Cabinet ministers who had been the subject of criticism over their policies.
Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik, who had endured ribbing at the hands of delegates over the last three days, was the first on his list.
“I was afraid he would get hammered again (when Maszlee spoke at the assembly). People at first didn’t like black shoes, then swimming. And now he was going to speak to this audience.
“The audience here aren’t
exactly the shy types. One misstep and it’s goodbye for you. Alhamdulillah, the Education Minister received many rounds of applause,” he said to peals of laughter from the crowd.
On a more serious note, the Bersatu chairman also voiced his dismay over a number of Bersatu division chiefs who had allegedly made overtures to eliminate certain members out of fear that they would be challenged in the party elections next year.
“I’m saddened at hearing about this. In politics, you win some and you lose some. And when you lose, you take it on the chin, get up and fight again.
“If we don’t allow anyone in, we’ll be left alone as a division chief with eventually no members, leading to the party’s destruction,” he said.
