Tun M open to meeting Unity Minister despite controversial Indian loyalty remarks

SHAH ALAM - Responding to calls for dialogue, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad expressed openness to meeting with Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang in the wake of his controversial remarks about the Indian community's loyalty to Malaysia.

"I hope he comes," he said through a message on platform X, today.

In the same posting, Dr Mahathir also took a jab against those who criticised him for making 'controversial' remarks during an interview with a Chennai-based satellite television channel recently.

"To those who keep speaking about multi-racial and criticise me on issues related to race should asked why there are race-based (political) parties existing in the country.

"There are parties which claim that they are multi-racial entities but such a claim was (called) fake by the former leader of the party," he said.

Dr Mahathir was reported to claim that the Indian community in Malaysia was still not entirely loyal to the country because they were still 'bound' to their home country.

This view was expressed during an exclusive online interview with the Indian satellite TV channel, Thanthi TV.

Dr Mahathir also questioned the existence of race-based parties in the country.