It has now become a "Chinese dilemma", says former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who asked whether Chinese Malaysians want to share political power with the other races or want to seize it altogether.
"For more than half a century of independence, the Chinese have shared wealth and power with the Malays. The idea for a Singapore-like Malaysia seems tempting and Penang has shown the way.
"The dilemma for the Chinese is whether to make a grab for political power while dominating economic power or to adhere to the principle of sharing, which has made this country what it is today.
"This is the Chinese dilemma," Mahathir says in a column in the New Straits Times today.
He said the Chinese buying into DAP's aspiration to make "a Singapore out of Malaysia", with Chinese wielding both economic and political power, has significantly weakened MCA, the Chinese partner in the ruling coalition, and made power-sharing untenable.
"For more than half a century of independence, the Chinese have shared wealth and power with the Malays. The idea for a Singapore-like Malaysia seems tempting and Penang has shown the way.
"The dilemma for the Chinese is whether to make a grab for political power while dominating economic power or to adhere to the principle of sharing, which has made this country what it is today.
"This is the Chinese dilemma," Mahathir says in a column in the New Straits Times today.
He said the Chinese buying into DAP's aspiration to make "a Singapore out of Malaysia", with Chinese wielding both economic and political power, has significantly weakened MCA, the Chinese partner in the ruling coalition, and made power-sharing untenable.
'MCA now a shadow of its former self'
"Battered, accused of being lackeys of Umno, MCA has gradually lost the support of the Chinese. It is now but a shadow of its former self.
"And with its weakening, the idea of sharing with the Malays political and economic power has become insupportable," opines Mahathir, who authored the book The Malay Dilemma.
He claimed that the Chinese community was already dominating the economy, from various business interests to their own colleges and universities.
"Whatever, the 'kongsi' (sharing) government has benefited Malaysia greatly. It has brought peace and stability, without which economic growth and development would not be possible.
"It is unthinkable for any race, Chinese or Malay, to take everything for themselves, to dominate the economy as well as the politics of Malaysia," he says.
"And with its weakening, the idea of sharing with the Malays political and economic power has become insupportable," opines Mahathir, who authored the book The Malay Dilemma.
He claimed that the Chinese community was already dominating the economy, from various business interests to their own colleges and universities.
"Whatever, the 'kongsi' (sharing) government has benefited Malaysia greatly. It has brought peace and stability, without which economic growth and development would not be possible.
"It is unthinkable for any race, Chinese or Malay, to take everything for themselves, to dominate the economy as well as the politics of Malaysia," he says.
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