KUALA LUMPUR, 23 March 2009: MCA president Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat said today he disagreed with former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that there are Chinese Malaysian educationists who are not in favour of government policies.
Ong said he disagreed with the allegation as the Chinese Malaysian community in the country also supported each policy formulated by the government.
“I am commenting based on my observation that what Dr Mahathir is alleging, that the Chinese (Malaysian) community, in particular Chinese (Malaysian) educationist are blocking the government’s efforts at racial integration, to be not true.
“So in asking me to comment, I wish to say I disagree with what has been said. I feel it is not correct, because if we really understand the Chinese community’s thinking, they too have stated their support for programmes to enhance racial integration,” he told reporters at Parliament’s lobby.
Ong, who is also Transport Minister, said this when asked to comment on the remarks by Mahathir carried on an English news portal yesterday.
Mahathir was also reported to have said the ng Jiao Zong Chinese Malaysian education group practised apartheid.
“They did not want to mix with the other races especially the Malay Malaysians. They did not want their children to mix with Malay Malaysians and that is apartheid, not us (referring to accusations the Malay Malaysians practised it),” Mahathir was reported to have said. — Bernama
