weehingthong

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Dr M: M’sian Indians are not ‘completely loyal’ to the country

Published:  Jan 13, 2024 12:14 PM

Updated: 12:14 PM

Malaysian Indians are not completely loyal to the country as they still identify with their country of origin, claimed former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Speaking in an exclusive online interview with Indian satellite TV channel Thanthi TV, Mahathir said one should identify as Malay to have the right to call the country their own.

“Malaysian Indians do not speak Malay as their home language, they speak Tamil (instead),” he said when the host asked whether one can’t remain loyal to the country while committed to their roots.

The nonagenarian then said that his “problem” is when “immigrants” (Indians and Chinese) call the country their own while professing their own cultures and customs.

When the host asked whether Mahathir expects the non-Malays to “totally assimilate” to become Malays, the latter replied in the affirmative.

“Yes… they should become. In the past, we have people of Indian, Pakistani, Arab, and African origin, who are now Malays.

“In the sense that they speak the Malay language at home, their culture is Malay.”

To this, the host asked whether Mahathir expects people of all races to identify as Malays, rather than Malaysians, Mahathir said that “it should be so.”

https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/693043

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