Senior Singapore diplomat Bilahari Kausikan has been condemned for his “crude remarks” about Malaysia’s ethnic relations by Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy.

Ramasamy said Bilahari’s 3,000-word opinion piece, published in the Singapore Straits Times on Oct 6 with the headline ‘Malaysia is undergoing a systemic change that has profound consequences for Singapore’, “is outdated”.

He said it was “unbecoming” of Bilahari to have made the remarks when he is a seasoned diplomat, who has formerly served as secretary of the Singapore Foreign Ministry.

“Bilahari does not understand the nuances and complexities of race relations in the country. He is still living in the 1950s and 1960s and does not realise how far Malaysia has moved forward in our ethnic relations,” Ramasamy told Malaysiakini today.

Ramasamy is currently in Singapore for a working trip. He was referring to Bilahari’s article that focused on the anti-establishment sentiments of the Malaysian Chinese community and their participation in the Bersih 4 rally of Aug 29-30.

Bilahari wrote: “It is my impression that many young Malaysian Chinese have forgotten the lessons of May 13, 1969. They naively believe that the system built around the principle of Malay dominance can be changed. That may be why they abandoned MCA for the DAP. They are delusional. Malay dominance will be defended by any means.”

Ramasamy asked who was Bilahari referring to when he talked about Malaysian Chinese challenging Malay dominance.

“Is is the DAP, MCA or Gerakan? I dont think Chinese in Malaysia, especially the younger generation, want to challenge Malay political power.

“They are Malaysians and they desire to have more political participation. They do not talk about challenging Malay dominance,” Ramasamy said.

“We all just want a better Malaysia, and as citizens, we all want equal rights, whether we are Malays, Chinese or Indians.

“When citizens want equal rights, is that challenging Malay dominance?” he queried.

Ramasamy said Bilahari even had the “gall” to say that young Malaysian Chinese have not learnt lessons from the May 13 racial riots of 1969.

He said Malaysians should instead “unlearn” from what happened then, as the situation among the races in the country was a lot different now, compared with 1969.

Red shirt rally to support Najib, not Malay rights

Ramasamy noted that Bilahari also touched on the alleged financial scandals of 1Malaysia Development Bhd and the RM2.6 billion unaccounted money in Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s private bank accounts.

These alleged scandals led to the Bersih 4 rally demanding the resignation of Najib, so that the relevant authorities could launch investigations into the cases.

According to Ramasamy, Bilahari implied that since the rally was attended mostly by the Malaysian Chinese community, Bersih’s demands could lead to Umno uniting with PAS over fears of Malay dominnace being challenged.

“What kind of rubbish is this, coming from a seasoned diplomat?

“Bersih was attended by all races who want Najib to step down because of alleged corruption. The protesters also demanded fair and clean elections and there was no such thing as challenging Malay dominance.

“Is Bilahari an apologist for the Malay racists, who organised the Sept 16 rally to counter Bersih 4 by wearing red shirts to defend Malay dignity?

“The handful of racists were there to protect Najib in office, not to defend Malays,” Ramasamy added.