Tun Mahathir’s Recent Call to Abolish 3R Politics
When Tun Dr. Mahathir recently stated that the first thing he would do if he ever became Prime Minister again is to abolish the 3R issues race, religion, and royalty my initial reaction was: too little, too late. The truth is, if only these enlightened views had guided his decisions during his decades in power, Malaysia might have become the developed nation we were promised by Vision 2020 perhaps even earlier.
Dr. Mahathir held power longer than any other Malaysian leader and commanded unparalleled influence. He had no real challengers and held the system in his grasp. He had the time, authority, and public support to reshape the nation, but instead, his policies entrenched the very divisions he now seeks to dismantle.
During his administration, corruption did not just exist it flourished. It seeped into civil service, politics, and public life. National unity was sidelined in favor of rhetoric, which divided the country further along racial lines. Policies like the New Economic Policy (NEP) were supposed to uplift the Bumiputera community and reduce inequality. But over time, it became a tool for cronyism and abuse, marginalizing non-Bumiputeras and even ordinary Malays who lacked political connections. What went wrong with the NEP?
Later, in a couple of months, he will approach 100 years. Mahathir has every right to speak his mind, and many of his current thoughts do contain valid points. But his legacy makes it hard for people to trust that these realizations are genuine. A leader’s impact is measured not by what he says in retirement, but by what he did while in power.
Take, for instance, the controversial 3R ban. I agree: it is largely unnecessary. Malaysia already has laws like the Sedition Act and Penal Code provisions to deal with those inciting hatred or violence. But when these laws are selectively enforced harsh on citizens over a misused flag, yet lenient with politicians who stoke division it becomes oppression, not governance.
If Malaysia had moved past racism and religious bigotry decades ago, we would be a far more stable, pleasant, and prosperous country today. Meritocracy and fair play have been lacking for far too long.
Let’s also address another major misstep: the flying car project. Championed during Mahathir’s later years, it symbolized everything wrong with leadership priorities grand, unrealistic visions with no real benefit for the rakyat. Meanwhile, our education system continued to decline.
Education, once a proud pillar of Malaysia, is now weakened by quota-driven policies and political interference. Malaysia fell behind in global university rankings. Many top-performing students especially non-Bumiputeras found themselves overlooked, and as a result, we suffered an enormous brain drain. It’s estimated that 1.9 million Malaysians, many of them skilled, have migrated for better opportunities, severely affecting our human capital and future economic potential.
If we can’t even address these basic issues reforming education, ensuring fair access to opportunity, and embracing all races as equal citizens then we risk staying stuck in the same destructive loop.
To be fair, Mahathir’s contributions to Malaysia’s early industrialization (Proton, KLCC, highways) are undeniable. But the damage from his policies particularly race-based affirmative action without accountability still echoes today.
Going forward, Malaysia must move past race-based politics. We need policies that empower all citizens, regardless of race or religion, while protecting the vulnerable and uplifting the underprivileged. The real wealth of a nation lies not in slogans or mega-projects, but in its people, its institutions, and its values.
Annan Vaithegi is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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