Yup – controversial academic and pundit Ridhuan Tee Abdullah is at it again.
Engaging in a back-and-forth with critics of his op-ed Sinar Harian column published last week, in which the outspoken ethnic Chinese Muslim convert and defender of ethnic Malay culture urged non-Malays and non-Muslims unhappy with their lot in Malaysia to leave the country for greener pastures, Ridhuan expressed his being “flabbergasted” at the alleged ingratitude of some Malaysians with the freedoms and wealth of tolerance they’ve enjoyed in the country.
His attempt at civilised this course this week? “From where I stand, I see five million foreign immigrants who have come here to make a living just waiting to replace [these ungrateful Malaysians],” he writes in his latest column, titled “The Truth Hurts”.
He probably shouldn’t float the idea of replacing people with Malaysian ICs with immigrants to ISMA, though. That might get ugly.
He proceeds to downplay or refute the contributions of non-Malays and non-Muslims to Malaysian progress, while calling out the racism of the critics who have been calling him racist for his views, by saying his detractors do little to acknowledge or appreciate the contributions and sacrifices of the Malay community.
“I want everyone to be respectful of one another. We all want a Malaysia that is peaceful, prosperous and united,” he writes. “But, these attacks against me are too much. People who write against me aren’t called out for being racist. But when I lay out the facts, I get thrown under the bus.”
