Racial Tensions Could Destabilise Malaysia

A series of disputes have erupted between the country's different ethnic groups in recent years, straining relations between Malays and minorities, who fear the country is being "Islamised."

"I am worried because over the last five to six years you don't see this country growing," Mahathir told reporters when asked to describe the political situation and whether he was worried it could cause instability.

"You see a lot of accusations on the part of the races... The Malays accuse the Chinese, the Chinese accuse the Indians and the Indians accuse the Malays. Before you don't see this," he added.

Malaysia's population is 60 per cent Muslim Malay, but also includes indigenous tribes as well as large ethnic Chinese and Indian communities - practising Buddhism, Christianity and Hinduism, among others. The minorities have increasingly voiced their resentment of policies that give Malays benefits in terms of housing, education and investment.

Mahathir, who spent more than two decades in power, said disputes between racial groups risked fuelling "anger and hatred" and causing instability. Earlier Mahathir inaugurated a new Malay nationalist group named Perkasa, which aims to defend the rights of the majority Malay population.

In January, Malaysian police said the severed heads of four pigs - considered unclean by Muslims - were found at two mosques, in the latest of a spate of attacks on places of worship that have escalated ethnic tensions. A simmering row over the use of the word "Allah" by non-Muslims has also seen violence against 11 churches, a mosque and two Muslim prayer halls.

Tun Dr Mahathir