Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s recent remarks warning Malays to be cautious of supposed non-Malay domination in Malaysia have drawn sharp criticism from various quarters, especially from concerned citizens who say such statements are divisive and baseless.
In a post on social media, the former prime minister urged young Malays to remain vigilant, claiming that if non-Malays gained political dominance, policies like the New Economic Policy (NEP)—which favors Malays through affirmative action—would be replaced with meritocracy, benefiting other ethnic groups. He also implied that economic dominance by non-Malays could be a precursor to greater political influence.
However, many have slammed Mahathir’s assertions as outdated fear-mongering, accusing him of using race as a political weapon to influence the Malay electorate. One netizen, Peng Seong, The One (@Cashisnotking1), responded pointedly, saying the Chinese community has no desire to become Prime Minister or control the government—they simply want leadership that is free of corruption.
Peng Seong was quick to highlight that the country's top positions—including the King, Prime Minister, Chief Justice, Home Minister, and Inspector-General of Police—are all held by Malays. The argument was made that real power already lies with the Malay leadership and has for decades.
Furthermore, financial scandals like 1MDB and issues surrounding influential business figures such as Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary were cited as examples where Malays have allegedly misused power. It was argued that if Malays have been wronged or deceived, it has often been by fellow Malays—not by non-Malays.
Another citizen, Nushi (@AnuNushi), called out Mahathir’s narrative as an attempt to sow distrust.
A fellow commenter, Ir.Kumar (@skumar176), echoed these sentiments, insisting that non-Malays are not interested in seizing power but in seeing a leadership that is just, non-corrupt, and capable of managing national resources for the benefit of all Malaysians—including the Malays themselves. He emphasized that mismanagement of NEP funds by the elite has hindered socio-economic progress and perpetuated cycles of political manipulation using race, religion, and royalty (3R).
The response from the public is clear: stop scapegoating ethnic minorities and focus on unity and good governance for all.
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