Zurairi AR, The Malaysian Insider
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today likened the Malay politicians in both Barisan Nasional (BN) and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) to “political beggars”, saying their scramble to be prime minister has led them to plead for support from the country’s minority races.
The influential Umno veteran pointed out that while these minority groups become more politically powerful, the Malays were becoming increasingly divided by fighting among themselves.
“The majority is split into three, we’re fighting among ourselves,” the former prime minister said here.
“Umno, PAS, PKR all have become beggars.”
He likened the situation to the strife between the Islamic sects of Sunnis and Shiites in the Arabic world, which has resulted in violence and killings.
Dr Mahathir (picture) also compared the disunity to how the Malays were united when they were fighting against the British rule.
“Back then when we were fighting the British, we had political strength. The Malays were united under Umno.
“The British became so afraid seeing Malays united, that they had to drop the Malayan Union.”
