PETALING JAYA: The government risks driving away non-Malays and hampering the growth of the country if it continues to pursue a racial narrative, says former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

In a special interview with FMT, Mahathir said the government must accept Malaysia’s multiracial nature and reflect that in its policymaking and make-up.

He said the country would be unstable, if racial narratives were pursued. “People will leave this country,” he said.

“Whatever you say about the non-Malays, there is no doubt that they have contributed towards the development of this country. If you remove them, the growth of this country will be hampered, it will even turn negative.”

He added that much of Malaysia’s economic growth can be attributed to non-Malays, who have been able to succeed economically despite being in the minority.

However, growth had created an economic gap. “There’s a need to balance (the wealth) between the non-Malays and the Malays. Because as you know, even if it’s a mono-ethnic country, if there is too big a disparity between the rich and the poor, there will eventually be violence.”

He said that revolutions from around the world showed the result of imbalances in society.

“We have to bring (the Malays) up so that there is a balance in terms of distribution of the national wealth between all the different communities,” he said.