PETALING JAYA: Parti Pejuang Tanah Air has came to the defense of its chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, saying that his remarks about the usage of chopsticks has been blown out of proportion.

       Pejuang information chief Ulya Aqamah Husamuddin said the former prime minister’s comments have been politicised without understanding the context behind it.

       “It was not intended to offend any Malaysians – it was a response to whether or not Malaysia should take the extreme route to assimilate (other ethnicities) similar to Indonesia.

       “The analogy was brought up to show an example of how it is different in Malaysia because Malaysians very much define and associate themselves with their roots,” he said in a statement on Tuesday (Dec 14).

       Ulya pointed out that the real issue is the readiness of people to assimilate as a nation working regardless of race or ethnicity.

       “As long as we all draw barriers and have these differences, the struggle to unite races and the people will be far from (becoming) reality.

       “This is all because we still define ourselves based on our race instead of as a Malaysian,” he said.

       Ulya also said this was the “bitter truth” that needs to be addressed.

       “The topic may be a taboo, but if we don’t address it, we will be in denial. The discourse should happen to ensure a better future for the nation,” he added.

       During the launch of his new book, “Capturing Hope: The Struggle Continues for a New Malaysia” 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,” he said.