“What is the meaning of independence if the country belongs to others?”
In his Facebook post this morning (April 29), former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir reflected on the meaning of independence and highlighted how the Malays have lost several Tanah Melayu (Malay lands) throughout time.
In his post, Tun M said the Malay Peninsula started from Segenting Kra (Kra Isthmus in southern Thailand) to Pulau Riau (Riau Islands, province of Indonesia).
“Today, the breadth of Malay Peninsula has deteriorated. It is now only from Perlis to Johor.”
“The Malays have lost Riau to the Indonesians, and 4 states to Thailand – Pattani, Yala, Setoi, Singgora.”
Tun M also highlighted that the Malays have lost Singapore to those who came from Mainland China.
“Parts of Peninsula that we have left from Perlis to Johor have also been sold to outsiders, and the sale of the Malay land will continue.”
Singapore separated from Malaysia on August 9, 1965, to become an independent and sovereign state due to political and economic differences.
Reflecting on the possible consequences, Tun M said that the Malay land will eventually belong to someone else, and the Malays will eventually “live in the jungle.”
Why do the Malays sell their lands?
In February this year, Tun M also explained in detail about the Thai states that were once part of the Malay Peninsula and are now provinces of Thailand. Tun M also said that the British brought in the Chinese, who eventually developed Singapore. In an interview with Malaysian singer Faizal Tahir, Tun M said that Malaysia’s Father of Independence, Tunku Abdul Rahman, who was also the first Prime Minister, decided to separate Singapore from Malaysia due to “certain issues and differences.”
In the interview, Tun M also said that the Malay lands in Malaysia will become fewer if the Malays continue to sell them. When asked about why the Malays are selling their lands, Tun M said,
“Many of us Malays are poor. Then come along the people who offer good prices, and we need the money for our children’s wedding, or to perform pilgrimage, and so on.”
“Every year, thousands of acres of Malay lands are sold to others. Half of the Peninsula doesn’t even belong to the Malays now.”
What do you think of Tun M’s take on this matter?
