Dr Mahathir Mohamad is trapped in the past by suggesting that race-based politics is still relevant in Malaysia, said Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng today.

lim guan eng According to him, the former premier's view on the March 8 general election was not shared by the majority Malaysians who rejected race-based politics.

"Obviously some people are still stuck in the political eras of the1960s and 70s," he told reporters at the Penang Assembly House.

mahathir kimma new office event 150708 03 In his keynote address to mostly university students at a function in Putrajaya yesterday, Mahathir shot down suggestions that the last election signaled the end of race-based politics.

On the contrary, he said, a close examination of Pakatan Rakyat parties, which gained big in the polls, would reveal that these parties were largely race-based.

Pointing out that it was difficult to say PKR and DAP were not race-based, he stressed that if PAS was to claim that it is not race-based, then he was not 'Mahathir Mohamad.'

Wave of transformation

However, Lim said people like Mahathir dwell in their little world of 'old school' thoughts and would soon disappear under the wave of transformation sweeping across the world.

He predicted that the election of Barrack Obama as the American president would break various barriers and trigger a global transformation.

The Pakatan Rakyat said Americans have broken their racial, religious, culture, traditional and historical barriers to elect a 'son of a slave to become the president of a super power'.

american presidential election barack obama 051108 05 "Just imagine a black man living in the White House. Americans have chosen a president based on principles and character not the colour of his skin.

"The American transformation is sure to affect other countries," he said, calling on senior politicians like Mahathir to move forward with time.

The DAP secretary-general also questioned the logic of deliberating on racial and religious politics as well as supremacy of a race when political governance failed to address various pressing public issues such as poverty, justice and freedom.

He noted that poverty in Terengganu was prevalent although political parties in the state promote racial and religious politics.

"The hut I saw 20 years ago is still there when I visited the state recently. Has racial politics resolved the issues of poverty and cater to public needs?

"After all, Terengganu is made up of 90 percent Malays," he said.