PUTRAJAYA, Nov 12 - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today it is possible for anyone including the non-Malays to be the Prime Minister, but he warned against harping on the issue of having a non-Malay PM because that would itself be racist.
"When you talk about a non-Malay PM, you are being racist, because you shouldn't ask the question whether a Malay or non-Malay can be PM. Here everyone can become Prime Minister, but he must be a leader of the majority party," said Mahathir after delivering a keynote address entitled Bangsa Malaysia at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here.
He claimed that the situation in Malaysia was different from that of Singapore.
"It's very clear when (Singapore Prime Minister, Lee) Hsien Loong said non-Chinese cannot be the PM, they are very open, of course we say one thing, we do another thing," said Mahathir.
However he said Malaysia is not ready to have a truly multiracial political party.
"It doesn't work, every multiracial party is dominated by one race, like Gerakan and DAP. Even PAP in Singapore is not multiracial," said Mahathir.
He added even the opposition parties have failed to prove they are multiracial despite their repeated claims that racial politics has ended.
He said that the failure during his administration to unite vernacular and national schools under one roof is evidence that the people are not ready to be united.
On the imminent economic crisis Mahathir said the problem can only be solved with international cooperation.
"I can assure this is very difficult to handle. I have no confidence in Obama, what about Najib. This is too big for Obama and Najib. We need to change the system, to change the system, we need international cooperation," said Mahathir.
He said that the present system is open to all kinds of abuses.
"You have to have a system that is more solid, based on something that is more tangible. All currencies of the world were pegged to gold. But when the US decided to go off the gold, that is when things go out of control, because you can print any amount of money without any backing," said Mahathir.

written by XX, November 12, 2008
written by M, November 12, 2008
Can we just live and behave like human beings.
We are 51 years old as a nation but what we talk and how we talk is like a 51 year old without any capability to think. Human being is given a mind to be able to discern and to look at the emotions and understand it's ramnification before it manifests as words that is uttered.
written by swipenter, November 12, 2008
You failed in uniting vernacular and national schools was bcos you let the national schools be islamised instead of being secular and you were pursuing ketuanan melayu idealogy in your administration. Instead of uniting the people you were actively dividing us in order to have your political grip over the country.
written by great alibaba, November 12, 2008
All those component parties, still contented by just being stooges to BN. How Pathetic !
written by sane man, November 12, 2008
i can't trust him anymore, i mean, i liked him before, but not now.
he needs to know when to keep silent.
written by Old Horse, November 12, 2008
written by Samuel Sing, November 12, 2008
written by chin, November 12, 2008
So g_karan is right, doing an Obama is old news in Malaysia.
What Malaysia has not done is to remove race discriminating policies from our constitution and laws.
It is not who gets to become PM, most likely a Malay or Malay mix will continue to be PMs but what the non-Malays want to see is the removal of race discriminating laws.
We can't say lets make a Chinese PM this year because it would undemocratic.
written by Truly Malaysian , November 12, 2008
written by steph. fong, November 12, 2008
The gold standard was abandoned ,eg. Churchill
insisted that the pound be backeb by gold.
Economist JM Keynes proved the folly of this.
The US has abandoned it eons ago, ancient economics.
It simply does not work this way , and to ask for this
show how shallow yr understanding
of economics.
Is TDM familair with macro economic or not ??
Pls read up..
written by Phelps, November 12, 2008
written by giggs, November 12, 2008
So old man spent more quality time with your family rather than give stupid comments ( don't be a laughing stock).
written by PaulineL, November 12, 2008
written by Rocky Racoon, November 12, 2008
written by Dr Janet Lee, November 12, 2008
I am ardent follower of your website for awhile now. I was wondering why this headline is in black? Is there hidden message that you are trying to convey? Just wondering.
written by gregwae, November 12, 2008
written by khalil gibran, November 12, 2008
written by Blue, November 12, 2008
written by tohellwithdrm, November 12, 2008
written by tohellwithawwheck, November 12, 2008
The whites...The blacks...The purple...
They wanted it coz CHANGE helps the economy and it's all about the economy, STUPID!!!
When will they ever learn??? Maybe another 51 years???
Sheesh!
written by Chan, November 12, 2008
written by TJ, November 12, 2008
Spewing thinly veiled racist venom, divisive comments, perverse logic, disingenous remarks, sophistry. It seems to get worse by the day.
Cukup lah Tun. Enough of your poppycock.
written by Blooloo, November 12, 2008
written by JaguhKampung, November 13, 2008
Tun has given you the real answer to the title of this article. Prove, DAP was the majority party in Perak during the Mar 2008 Election but it's leader wasn't made the Chief Minister. Not wanting to create any race matter her (in fact, I am quite happy with Nizar eventhough he's from PAS) but it does prove something isn't it?
written by Save the World?, November 13, 2008
How? With his gold bars theory - new story Tun's singing now. Great if we bring back the gold bars, the financial crisis will be over. I thought people already knew from the Japanese experience that you simply just can't print money.
Tun's other recent story was that the Americans voted for Obama becuase they disliked Bush (same story that people voted for opposition because they disliked our PM)... but wait a minit Bush did not stand for elections, so why vote for Obama... Oops perhaps Tun forget, aiyah ...muda lupa lah.
Today's new song is anyone can be PM but with new chorus i.e. No multiracial party ... why? why else, because Malaysians don't want to be united.
Phew... now its the rakyat's fault. After 22 years under Tun's rule, Tun now says "It's not my fault ... the people did not want to be ... (apa itu) ... unity ... jangan salahkan saya lah".
This is another classic Mahathir ploy - blame the people and say the people do not want to be united. Keep saying it often enough, people will believe it.
This without any doubt is the only MAN capable in the world who can save the world from its financial crisis, may be Tun should become the next US President - may be by then the Americans won't like Obama any more and therefore they will vote for Tun.
written by DurianBesar, November 13, 2008
Gonite Tun, time for bed, Tun.
Pi tidur Tun.
Ya, ya, bye Tun, pi, pi tidur TUn.
G O O D! N I G H T! T U N!
written by DurianBesar, November 13, 2008
People of a country becoming united, combining forces to build up a better country is a good thing, whilst minority ethnic groups getting neutralized, whereby whose traditional values, unique cultures getting consumed, whether by fairness doctrine or unjust treatment, is bad.
During Mahathir regime, he did not try to unite vernacular and national schools under one roof as he cunningly put it. He tried to lick up the minority, not for the sake of promoting Malay cultures, but for the diabolic agenda to create tension, create a stewing atmosphere amongst the different races.
To many people, Paul Keating might be the most unwelcome PM of Australia (especially for Tun Ma). But he once advocates a theory of his own which suits best for all multiracial countries. He says he does not envisage Australia become a cultural melting pot like America, he wishes Australia be like a Chinese cooking wok, by the end of stir-frying, each ingredient vege can still be clearly identified, but when served together, it is a delicious and nutritious dish.
Salam Dear Tun Ma would never have the same bearinig, same grace of Paul Keating. When he called Tun Ma a recalcitrant, he meant it, and Salam Dear Tun Ma deserve every single piece of it.
written by DurianBesar, November 13, 2008
written by BackAlleyKid, November 13, 2008
Its time to learn when to SHUT UP and wait for your days to come.
Malaysia doesn't specify that we need a non-malay PM, as long as he/she is capable, anyone can sit in that position. And I am pretty clear that, after 51 years, we still havent found any suitable man to be in that position.
written by outsider, November 13, 2008
- A member of the Dewan Rakyat (House of Representatives) or known as Member of Parliament, whom is thought fit to lead a majority of the members of Parliament.
- Born a citizen of Malaysia; naturalised citizens may not be appointed as Prime Minister.
Although constitution gives the Yang di-Pertuan Agong discretion in the appointment of the Prime Minister, the appointment is invariably made based on vote-taking in the House or on the party commanding the most seats.
So nothing in the constitution about having to be a malay muslim...




