PETALING JAYA: The views expressed in Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's new book show that the former premier is “out of touch with society”, says Datuk Chong Sin Woon.

       The MCA secretary-general said Malaysia’s race relations should not be undermined by such an outdated worldview and narrow thinking.

       “The recent remarks by Dr Mahathir could only be described as 'out of touch with society'.

       “I urge all Malaysians to not be easily swayed by his words but instead commit ourselves to be more open-minded, progressive and accepting of others’ cultures so that we can build a more united Malaysia together.

       “We do not want to see Malaysia’s precious multiracial ties get strained because of his new book and his remarks, which propagate racial division and extremism,” he said in a statement on Monday (Dec 13).

       Chong noted that Malaysians should discuss nation-building from a progressive and diverse perspective in order for the country to develop and move forward.

       In his new book that was launched on Sunday (Dec 12), Dr Mahathir had referred to the continued use of chopsticks by the Chinese community here.

       He had said: “The Chinese eat with chopsticks, they don’t eat with their hands. They have not adopted the Malaysian way of eating food.

       “They retained the chopstick, which is an identity from China, not Malaysia, and many other things."

       Chong said MCA had, from its founding days and throughout the years, expended every effort to protect and preserve cultural diversity and the rights of each ethnicity, including the freedom to learn one's own mother tongue as provisioned under the Federal Constitution; as well as to uphold the prevailing principles of moderation, freedom and democracy.

       He added that, as a former prime minister, Dr Mahathir had his fair share of contributions and failures.

       “And yet, after so many years, he still could not break free from the extreme, racial mindset.

       “At 96, one would expect Tun to have a more seasoned outlook and come up with wiser approaches to current affairs.

       “Regrettably, he remains unchanged in his old ways, still bitter and critical about the specifics of the ethnicities and cultures of others,” he said.

       Party vice-president Datuk Tan Teik Cheng also criticised Dr Mahathir’s remarks, saying the Langkawi MP’s narrow and racist values “have no place in Malaysia’s multicultural society”.

       “Despite the full awareness of Malaysia’s multiracial composition and having served as our nation’s premier twice, Dr Mahathir remains besotted with inciting the differences in the rakyat’s ethnic culture, language, and lifestyle as his political capital.

       “How ironic and contradictory from a disposition expected from Malaysia’s most senior political figure,” he said in a statement.

       Tan said Dr Mahathir’s remarks betray his preference that other ethnic groups must be assimilated.

       “Dr Mahathir needs to be reminded that he is mistaken here.

       “Undermining national unity and instigating racial sentiments by stirring one against another, in this (instance), taking the examples of eating with hands versus eating with chopsticks, is unMalaysian and unhealthy in forging inter-ethnic ties.

       “To enhance harmonious coexistence, mutual respect and goodwill among the different ethnic communities are our nation’s greatest assets,” he said.

       Whether the Malaysian Chinese eat with their hands, chopsticks, or forks and spoons or knives, Tan said their identity as Malaysians along with their citizenship cannot be changed or denied.

       “This is the cultural identity and heritage that we are proud of.

       “Our mutual appreciation and goodwill enable all ethnic groups to retain their identity," he said, adding that cultural and traditional characteristics are reflective of Malaysia’s long-extolled values of unity in diversity.