In a recent interview with South Indian television channel Thanthi TV, former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad stirred controversy by accusing Malaysian Indians of disloyalty to the country. He attributed this alleged lack of loyalty to the community's refusal to adopt the language, religion, and customs of the Malays, extending the accusation to the Chinese community as well.
Several government politicians criticized Mahathir's remarks, labelling him as a racist who fails to recognize the contributions of non-Malays to the country. In response, Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy, former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II, vehemently countered Mahathir's claims, denouncing him as the prime architect of racial and religious divisions in the nation.
Mahathir swiftly responded by calling Ramasamy a racist for leaving the multi-racial party DAP and joining the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai). However, Ramasamy defended his move, emphasizing that forming Urimai doesn't make him a racist; rather, it addresses the concerns of the Indian poor and marginalized while remaining open to all Malaysians concerned about democratic human rights.
Ramasamy clarified his resignation from DAP in August 2023, asserting that the party lacked true multi-racialism and used token representation of Indian and Malay leaders to advance its political agenda. He is currently in the process of registering Urimai as an Indian Tamil-based political party with a commitment to addressing the plight of the Indian community without neglecting the rights of other ethnic groups.
One point of contention highlighted by Ramasamy is the alleged exclusion of Indian Tamil ministers in the cabinet by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. He defended his criticism, arguing that if cabinet appointments are based on racial considerations, there is nothing wrong with advocating for Indian Tamil ministers to reflect the communal composition of the Indian community.
Ramasamy questioned why, during Mahathir's tenure as PM, he ensured the inclusion of Indian Tamil ministers in the cabinet, yet he now emphasizes the term "Malaysian ministers" without specifying ethnicity. Ramasamy reiterated his loyalty to Malaysia, emphasizing that disagreement with government policies does not equate to disloyalty.
While Mahathir branded Ramasamy as racist and accused him of extremism, Ramasamy expressed pride in his determination to assist the poor and discriminated against of all ethnicities. He emphasized his Malaysian identity, his proficiency in the Malay language, and his children's education in national schools, reinforcing his commitment to the nation.
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