On Mahathir's “ Malay Proclamation”, newspaper Sin Chew recently published the article by Charles Chia, Committee member of Monsoons Malaysia
谢扬泰 委员
The summary is posted below, whereas the digital translated bahasa malaysia version [7-minute] is clickable above.
A TikTok video-presentation in English is available HERE.
A related STORM'S mini-essay on whether it's a Malay problem or Class issue is published here; an accompanied article with reference to Malaysia’s creative destruction in economic development is also accessible; whereas the TikTok version is HERE.
The article critiques Mahathir Mohamad’s 2023 “Malay Proclamation” as a regressive and politically self-serving document that misrepresents the realities and sentiments of the Malay community. The author notes that the proclamation appears to recycle outdated narratives from decades past, ignoring the fact that Mahathir himself was in power for over two decades with ample opportunity to uplift the Malays but failed to deliver sustainable socioeconomic transformation. The continued existence of poverty among all ethnic groups, including Malays, undermines his credibility in blaming others for the community’s struggles.
Central to the critique is the irony that Mahathir, who accuses Malays of losing power due to disunity, was a primary cause of that very fragmentation—splitting UMNO multiple times, jailing political rivals, forming new parties, and repeatedly destabilizing governments. The proclamation, the author suggests, is less about empowering Malays and more about sabotaging Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s multi-racial unity government. Mahathir’s alliance with PAS leader Hadi Awang is seen as a desperate political maneuver by two aging figures seeking to regain relevance by stoking racial and religious tensions.
Finally, the article warns that blaming ethnic minorities for Malay underdevelopment is not only misleading but dangerous. It calls for a shift away from divisive rhetoric towards inclusive governance that acknowledges shared interdependence among all Malaysians. To address genuine concerns in the Malay community, the Unity Government must go beyond symbolic frameworks like “Madani” and undertake serious policy evaluations —starting with an honest assessment of the long-term effects of the NEP — to deliver tangible and equitable outcomes for all citizens.
