How did Dr Mahathir manage racial harmony during his tenure?

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Dr Mahathir Asserted Control Over Racial Strife During His Premiership

Dr Mahathir Mohamad stated that during his 22-year tenure as prime minister, he actively managed and contained racial tensions. He acknowledged the inherent potential for conflict arising from the distinct cultural, linguistic, and economic disparities among Malaysia's diverse ethnic groups. Dr Mahathir contended that his successors did not effectively handle these underlying issues, leading to a resurgence of racial discord.
Proactive Management of Inter-Ethnic Differences

Dr Mahathir indicated that he took deliberate steps to keep racial strife in check, demonstrating an awareness of the potential for "racial fights." He recognized that the significant differences in culture, language, and economic achievements across the various races posed a risk to national harmony. His approach aimed to preemptively address these disparities to prevent them from escalating into open conflict.
Criticism of Successors' Handling of Racial Issues

He expressed the view that subsequent leaders failed to manage the issue of racial strife effectively. Dr Mahathir suggested that adopting a liberal stance, as he perceived his successors had done, inadvertently created an environment where extremists could exploit racial differences to foster disunity. This, in his opinion, made people more conscious of their ethnic distinctions and contributed to rising racial tensions.
Contrasting Approaches to Governance

Dr Mahathir's remarks implied a contrast between his leadership style and that of his successors, particularly in relation to managing ethnic relations. He suggested that an overly liberal approach, which allows for open discourse on sensitive topics, could be exploited by extremist elements within each race. This, he argued, led to a situation where racial issues were highlighted, causing people to retreat into their ethnic identities and exacerbating tensions.

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How did Dr Mahathir manage racial harmony during his tenure?

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