KUALA LUMPUR: Social Protection Contributor Advisory Association Malaysia (SPCAAM) has hit out at Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad for his recent comments on race and religion in a TV interview.
Its international labour advisor, Callistus Antony D'Angelus, said instead of being a powerhouse in Southeast Asia, divisions based on race and religion have been used for political convenience.
"The protagonist in-chief, who can count himself as the father of Malaysia's division, is two-time prime minister– Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad.
"He ascended to Malaysia's highest office through propagating a misguided and mischievous account of race and religious dynamics, eugenics, and constantly altering the events of history.
"His latest diatribe which involved comments about Chinese and Indians and their place as Malaysians is another attempt to leave a trail of destruction," he said in a statement today.
D'Angelus said in order to stay in power and keep himself in public view, Dr Mahathir threw up theories of race which were then capitalised by politicians who were equally opportunistic and did not care for the progress of Malaysians or its people.
"That a multi-racial and multi-religious country with a large proportion of minorities, probably more than most countries in the world, would throw up conflagrations from time to time, must be expected.
"We could have worked through them and come out stronger had the divisions not been institutionalised and entrenched by the likes of Dr Mahathir.
"The division sown has not brought any benefit to Malaysia or Malaysians, of all ilks and persuasions." he added.
The labour and social protection group said that leaders should focus on economic and social development instead of causing division in the country, says Social Protection Contributor Advisory Association Malaysia (SPCAAM).
Dr Mahathir, in an interview with Chennai-based Indian satellite television channel. Thanthi TV, said Malaysian Indians and Chinese were not completely loyal to the country as they still wanted to identify themselves with their respective countries of origin.
He also stood by his previous remarks that Malaysia belongs to the people who founded the country.
The interview was uploaded to Thanthi TV's YouTube channel on Jan 11.