Dr Mahathir may have forgotten about Wawasan 2020 - Petaling Jaya MP
NOR SYAMIRA LIANA NOR ASHAHA
SHAH ALAM - Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad may have forgotten that the word "Malay" was not mentioned in Wawasan 2020, which was created in 1991.
He said that the document instead referred to a single Malaysian race.
Lee said that Dr Mahathir had started raising the issue of Malays because they were no longer seen as "lazy" but were now under threat.
He pointed out that Dr Mahathir had quoted the words of Hang Tuah, a historical icon who devoted his loyalty to the Sultan, saying that Malays would not disappear in the world.
"However, Dr Mahathir had not provided any evidence to support his claim that Malays had lost many territories.
"Dr Mahathir's prediction that the nation would be lost to the country and the world was a baseless threat," he said in a statement today.
Lee said that Dr Mahathir may have been trying to recall the history of the 15th and 16th centuries, when the Melaka Malay Sultanate reached its peak and then declined to the point of falling into the hands of foreign invaders.
However, he said that history must be examined in detail, with its context and background explored, in order to avoid a narrow interpretation.
Lee said that if history was traced, it would be clear that Melaka's fall was due to slander, corruption, and inefficient economic management.
"These factors eventually led to the fall of Melaka when the Portuguese invaded and captured it in 1511," he added.
Lee said that the wisdom of excessive internal political struggles, which can lead to people bringing each other down due to envy and greed, would lead to the downfall of any nation.
He said that this was a lesson that Malaysia should learn from the fall of Melaka.
"Instead of praising political figures who attack anyone without direction, it was better to shed light on all the problems that Malaysia has inherited from the past few decades.
"It is also important to appreciate big-hearted and open-minded figures who celebrate diversity," he said.
Lee said that Malaysia would be successful if it displayed the special qualities that it has, following the political, economic, and sociocultural formula that shows diversity.
