KUALA LUMPUR — Former Malaysian prime minister and now opposition leader Mahathir Mohamad on Wednesday (Feb 28) defended Malaysia’s affirmative action programme after magnate Robert Kuok’s scathing criticism of the move designed to lift Malays from poverty and give them a more equitable share of the country’s economic growth.

Dr Mahathir said that if the programme was not in place, the country’s Bumiputeras would be sidelined.

“We will prove to him why we have affirmative action (programme). Without affirmative action, there would not be enough scholarships for Bumiputeras,” Dr Mahathir said.

The opposition Pakatan Harapan chairman explained that the plan has enabled more Malays to take up professions like medicine, with at least 40 per cent of students in local medical schools coming from the ethnic group.

Dr Mahathir is a staunch defender of race-based affirmative action policies as prescribed by the New Economic Policy, an economic model mooted in 1971 by Dr Mahathir’s predecessor, former Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak, the father of current prime minister Najib Razak.

It aims to close the socio-economic gap between the largely-urban Chinese and the rural Malays as well as other indigenous Bumiputera.

Ironically, however, Dr Mahathir has admitted in the past that the programme has made the Malays more complacent, while noting that the system had been abused to enrich only a few elites who were close to the ruling party.

But he has continued to defend the plan, saying it was still needed to help the Malays compete and bridge the income disparity among the races.

The programme has its critics.

Malaysian tycoon Kuok, in his memoirs last year, said a shift in policy to close the wealth gap by giving Malays an advantage was implemented after the May 13 racial riots in 1969.

“Since May 13, 1969, the Malay leadership has had one simple philosophy: the Malays need handicapping. Now, what amount of handicapping? The government laid down a simple structure, but the structure is full of loopholes,” he said.

“I felt that in their haste to bridge the economic gap between the Chinese and the Malays, harmful shortcuts were being taken. One of the side effects of their zeal to bridge the economic gap was that racism became increasingly ugly.”

The Hong Kong-based businessman made headlines earlier this week when political blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin claimed Mr Kuok was funding the opposition to topple the government led by Mr Najib.

Mr Kuok has denied all allegations, reaffirmed his loyalty to Malaysia and is mulling legal action against Mr Raja Petra.

Dr Mahathir on Wednesday agreed that the tycoon was a “true patriot” because he has not relinquished his citizenship despite overseas successes.

“He retains citizenship of the country despite making money outside of Malaysia. I believe he is still a citizen of Malaysia. If you are not a patriot, you will give up your citizenship.” THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT