Press Statement by M Kula Segaran, DAP National Vice Chairman and MP for
Ipoh Barat in Ipoh on 2st August 2017



Home Minister’s allegation about Tun Mahathir’s lineage is sign of Umno’s political desperation

It was most shocking that the Deputy Prime Minister cum Home Minister Datuk Seri
Zahid Hamidi has accused the longest serving Umno president and Prime
Minister Tun Mahathir who had struggled the Malay agenda was actually using the Malays.

He has alleged that Mahathir’s original identity card stated his name as Mahathir a/l Iskandar Kutty.
Zahid’s comments are baffling because in terms of logic, how could one who had struggled the Malay agenda be accused of using the Malays?

By revealing details of a person’s identity card, Zahid has violated the data protection act and he should be investigated by the police.

Since there have been police reports lodged against Zahid, the police should immediately investigate Zahid. As the Home Minister is the political superior of the Police, to facilitate investigation, Zahid should take temporary leave as Home Minister.

It has to be noted that Mahathir’s daughter has refuted Zahid’s allegation .She said that Mahathir’s name should be Mahathir bin Mohamad because her grandfather’s name was Mohamad Iskandar.

The only reason why the Deputy Prime Minister would go the extent of playing such dirty tactic against Mahathir is obviously that Umno is getting desperate due to the ability of Mahathir in spreading Pakatan Harapan’s political message to the Malays, including traditional Umno supporters.

Umno leaders will not want to public admit it but the truth is that Mahathir and his party have been able to garner Malay support for the opposition.

There are very clear signs that there will be a Malay tsunami in the next general election. And when the tsunami peaks at the general election, Umno and BN will just fall.

In order to frighten the Malays, Umno leaders have been using the publicity strategy of Chinese versus Malays in its attacks against the DAP. Malays have been warned to be fearful of DAP.

It is now clear that Umno, by alleging Mahathir’s supposed lineage, is also embarking on a racist approach in its continued attacks against Mahathir.

What Umno cannot see is that the voters including the traditional Umno supports are now more politically aware and informed. They can see how the Malays not only have not suffered but have been fairly treated even though opposition have formed the state governments in Selangor and Penang since 2008.

The racist approach used to attack Mahathir will not work and can even back fire as young Malaysians especially reject racial politics.

It is clear and simple that there is a racist element in Zahid’s allegation.

For months, UMNO has used the racist approach against the DAP
They have claimed that DAP is a Chinese party that will control the opposition
.Malays have been told to be fearful of DAP.

Now with Zahid using Mahathir’s lineage to attack him, the public should be surprised
that Umno has decided to adopt the racist approach against Mahathir after all its attacks
have not been effective.

Why has Umno become so desperate that it can adopt such low and irresponsible tactic against
its former president and the nation’s prime minister.



M.Kula Segaran