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(The Malaysian Insider) Why did the government allow the Hindu Rights Action Force's alleged racist remarks to go unchallenged while being very apologetic towards racial accusation against Umno leaders?
That's what Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad wants to know. He also wonders why ministers of Indian origin or other Indian community leaders are not required to apologise for Hindraf's alleged racial views. The former premier is bringing up again the "us and them" problem, directing his anger towards the government for being allegedly defensive. Citing the Hindraf memorandum which was sent to the British government last year, Dr Mahathir said there were many extreme and racist words used such as "Islamic extremist, violent armed terrorists", "ethnic cleansing", "mini genocide" to describe the government's alleged action against the Indians in Malaysia. "The writings in the Hindraf memorandum are not only racist but seditious. The question is why the government is lopsided, hiding the racist remarks of Hindraf but reporting widely on what have been said by Malay leaders," he wrote in his blog today. He said race relations had gone worse after the March 8 general election, adding that he too might be accused of contributing to the bad situation through his writing. "But for me, it is so unfair if one side is free to accuse while the accused can't even open his mouth," he said. He was referring to the apology by the government including Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and a few other ministers to the Chinese and Indians on what was deemed as some Malay leaders' racist remarks. He also said that when non-Malays uttered a racist remark, the Malays never demanded the authorities to apologise. Saying that the Malays are so afraid of being labelled racist, Dr Mahathir accused them of being afraid to defend themselves even when their rights were ridiculed and attacked by others. "It is unfortunate for the DPM and Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's government that even after the Umno top leadership made a public apology, it was rejected by those community leaders. They have demanded that the person who uttered the words labelled as 'racist' should apologise himself," he said. The former prime minister said another embarrassing situation last year was when a minister was sent to China to apologise to the government when it was thought that a Chinese citizen was stripped naked by the police in a lock up; and later was found out that she was a Malay woman. Citing the case of Malaysian student Wee Meng Chee whom he accused of ridiculing the national anthem and making fun of Islamic practices last year, Dr Mahathir said: "Have they been asked to apologise? Have their leaders be asked to apologise? Far from it. In fact, Wee was defended by leaders of the Chinese parties, and Hindraf leaders were released from detention, and some of them could freely contest the elections and won to become wakil rakyat. "They demanded that there must not be any discrimination by the government. But it seems that not only they have their freedom but they get a privilege to be called 'Yang Berhormat' after uttering racist and seditious remarks."
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