Dr Mahathir Mohamad has come under fire for uttering the word “keling”, which is considered derogatory to Indians, when launching a broadside against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Penang Deputy Chief Minister II P Ramasamy said the incident was disappointing, but did not come as a surprise.

He also noted that while the origin of the word was not intended to be an insult, but in the modern context, it is used disparagingly against ethnic Indians.

“It is disappointing that it comes from a man who is starting a new party. Do you think Indians in Malaysia will support him when he does things like this?

“Anyway, he doesn’t care about the Indians, and the Indians don’t care about him,” he said.

“Who says that with age comes wisdom? As one ages, it might bring the worst streaks in a person. Mahathir might have years of political experience but he is devoid of wisdom.

“As a former prime minister he should know that the word ‘keling’ is derogatory and disparaging to Indians in this country.

“While he can take umbrage with Najib, he should not have used the word ‘keling’ in his remark,” he added.               

Furthermore, Ramasamy (photo) said the former premier’s decision to create a party exclusive to the Malays and bumiputera revealed that the nonagenarian still possessed a racist mindset.

“This shows he does not care about non-Malays.

“Mahathir should remember that the mess we are in today was created by him when he helmed Umno for more than two decades,” he added.

Contempt for non-Malays

The DAP leader also said it was not surprising for Mahathir to make such remarks since he had always denied his past.

“To date, Mahathir pretends. When he chose to challenge the former prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman in the 1960s, he was dismissed as not being a true Malay.

“The use of the word ‘keling’ by Mahathir reflects more on his own insecurity and the perpetual psychological need on his part to be accepted as a Malay,” he added.

Ramasamy was referring to the claims that the former Umno president’s paternal roots could be traced to India.

He said the incident also revealed the former premier’s own frustrations in wanting to remove Najib from power.

“It is this pathological need to bring Malays together in the form of an ethnic bumiputera party that is driving Mahathir crazy.

“I really wonder how a man like Mahathir can be taken seriously in Malaysian politics if he has nothing but contempt for non-Malays in the country.

“How can civil society leaders welcome his new party if his thoughts are alien to a society that we ought to build?” he asked.

In a video clip being circulated on social media, Mahathir was heard stating the word “keling” during a ‘Save Malaysia’ event in Langkawi which took place in May.                                                               

Meanwhile, MIC leader S Vell Paari also expressed disappointment over the incident.

He said as a former prime minister and as someone described as a statesman, Mahathir should have known better.

“Some cite the historical context or say it is fine to use the term in northern states, but what is important is how it is used in the modern context, and how Indians feel about it.

“Mahathir should have been more sensitive. Why did he need to use such a term in the first place, couldn’t he have just said ‘Indians’ instead?” he asked.