Mahathir flays Malays, West, gays<\/p>\n
Jasbant Singh, Associated Press, Kuala Lumpur<\/p>\n
Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad called his country's
\nethnic Malay Muslims greedy, impatient and lazy, and urged them
\nto return to Islam's true teachings. He also lashed out against
\nWestern values and media.<\/p>\n
The comments were in the text of a speech released on Saturday
\nahead of celebrations on Sunday marking the 46th anniversary of
\nMalaysia's independence from Britain. It was Mahahir's final
\nIndependence Day speech as prime minister, as he is set to step
\ndown in November after more than 22 years in power.<\/p>\n
Mahathir said ethnic Malays -- who make up 60 percent of the
\npopulation -- hold only a 19 percent stake in the country's
\neconomy despite government affirmative action policies aimed at
\ngiving them a 30 percent share.<\/p>\n
"Why has this happened?" Mahathir asked. "It is due to
\nimpatience, a habit of taking the easy way out, and greed."<\/p>\n
Mahathir said Malays continue to lag economically because many
\nof them have chosen to make quick profits by selling off
\ngovernment projects which had been awarded to them.<\/p>\n
Mahathir has presided over the country's transformation from
\nan economic backwater to one of Asia's richest countries, but has
\noften lamented that the Malays depend too much on government
\nhandouts.<\/p>\n
Mahathir's speech warned Malays to return to Islam's "true
\nteachings," saying success comes from hard work and determination
\nand "cannot be attained through prayers alone."<\/p>\n
Mahathir said deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussein failed to
\nadhere to Islam -- and ended up losing his country.<\/p>\n
"Saddam's government was cruel and had oppressed its people
\nuntil they hated him and were not willing to sacrifice their
\nlives to defend him," Mahathir said.<\/p>\n
"Saddam was the cause of his own defeat because he did not
\nfollow the teachings of Islam."<\/p>\n
Mahathir also lashed out at Western influences, blaming
\nMalaysia's rising crime rate on excessive sex and violence in
\nforeign movies.<\/p>\n
He said moral values were rapidly declining in the West, where
\n"religious leaders were openly involved in gay relationships".<\/p>\n
Western countries "are very angry -- especially, their
\nreporters, many of whom are homosexuals- - when we take legal
\naction against such practices," Mahathir said.<\/p>\n
In Malaysia, sexual acts between persons of the same gender
\nare punishable by up to 20 years in prison and flogging.<\/p>\n
The leader, known for his frequent criticisms of Western
\nvalues, said Western ideas on democracy and human rights were not
\nsuitable for Malaysia, and that his people "should not be ashamed
\njust because we are not as liberal or as free as them".<\/p>",
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