A new blogpost by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has revived debate on the future of Malaysia’s largest ethnic group, with the veteran statesman warning that Malays are facing what he describes as an existential threat — the gradual loss of their own land. He argues that this erosion of ownership, combined with political disunity and entrenched poverty, is pushing the community toward a precarious future unless urgent corrective measures are taken.
According to Mahathir, half of Peninsular Malaysia is no longer under Malay ownership, a trend he believes is accelerating with expanding cities and suburban growth. Urban centres, he notes, have long been out of Malay hands, and the districts surrounding them are quickly following the same trajectory as land continues to be sold off. He asserts that this shift has also made it difficult for Malay political candidates to remain competitive in urban constituencies, as demographic patterns no longer favour them.
Plantations, industrial zones, resort and theme park areas, agricultural estates, and even large parts of Penang, he says, have slipped out of Malay ownership over the decades. With fewer Malays holding land, he argues that Malay-majority constituencies will shrink further — a trend made worse when Malays choose not to vote, weakening their political influence even more.
Mahathir highlights political fragmentation as a second major threat, noting that a divided electorate makes it nearly impossible for any Malay-led party to secure enough seats to form a stable government. He insists that unity, not party loyalty, is the only viable path forward. Under what he calls a “big umbrella” approach, Malays should set aside political labels and compete in elections with a single candidate per constituency to regain political ground.
While acknowledging widespread poverty among Malays, Mahathir counters the narrative that the community is incapable of progress. He cites institutions like Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB), which manages billions of ringgit and built the 118-storey Merdeka 118 tower, as proof that Malay-led entities can achieve large-scale success. He points to Bank Negara’s reserves and the massive funds held by EPF, KWAP and Tabung Haji as national assets that could help uplift the community if properly mobilised.
One proposal he floats is a freeze on land sales except to major national funds, allowing ownership to remain local while still enabling economic development through leases and rentals. But he stresses that policies alone cannot solve the underlying issue of poverty. For Malays to thrive, he argues, their mindset must shift away from relying on salaried work and toward actively engaging in business, entrepreneurship and the development of their own natural assets.
Mahathir ends with a stark message: Malaysia is rich with opportunity, but unless Malays themselves take charge of exploiting the land, seas, and economic potential around them, the cycle of poverty — and the loss of their homeland — will continue.
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