When Penang Deputy Chief Minister II Dr. P. Ramasamy criticised the former prime minister for using the phrase "foreigners," Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad responded.
Ramasamy published a lengthy post about Dr. Mahathir on his Facebook page on Monday.
He asserted that Dr. Mahathir was always talking about how "foreigners" or non-Malays had taken away Malay people's economic and political privileges.
He had said that referring to fourth- and fifth-generation non-Malaysians as "foreigners" or even "guests" was downright offensive.
RAMASAMY 1. Ramasamy is annoyed that I still distinguish the descendants of migrants from China and India as orang asing or people of foreign origins.
— Dr Mahathir Mohamad (@chedetofficial) March 9, 2023
In a Twitter rant, Dr Mahathir stated, "Ramasamy is annoyed that I still distinguish the descendants of migrants from China and India as 'orang asing' or people of foreign origins."
"It is not me but they themselves who wish to identify themselves as of foreign origin. It is they who identify themselves as Malaysian Chinese or Malaysian Indians. Malays identify themselves with this country Malaysian."
"Yes, my ancestors came from India. But I don't call myself a Malaysian Indian. I am a Malay in the sense that my home language is Malay and my culture is Malay."
7. But the Chinese and Indians in Malaysia insist on speaking in Chinese and Indian languages. They use to speak in the dialects of their provinces in their countries of origin.
— Dr Mahathir Mohamad (@chedetofficial) March 9, 2023
Going on, he alleges that the Chinese and Indians in Malaysia insist on communicating in Chinese and Indian languages.
"They use to speak in the dialects of their provinces in their countries of origin."
He said that the Malaysian Chinese likewise adopted Mandarin when China proclaimed it their official language, along with the change in their name.
Nonetheless, Indians in Malaysia also do the same, preferring to use the language of their own provinces.
9. But the Chinese and Indians insist on their own schools, using Mandarin and Indian languages as media of instruction. They refuse to go to national schools where the medium is Malay, the official language of Malaysia.
— Dr Mahathir Mohamad (@chedetofficial) March 9, 2023
He continued by saying that Malaysian Chinese and Indians insist on having their own schools where they can learn in their own languages and won't go to public schools where Malay, the country's official language, is taught.
Dr. Mahathir said he doesn't insist on changing religions but surely the language and culture must be those of Malaysia which is Malay.
"As I said I am not racist. I am a national of the country called Malaysia. I have a right to a fair share of the wealth of this my country."