This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on March 12, 2019

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Malaysia should give consideration to the Chinese government’s policies as some of them are beneficial to Putrajaya.

“Whether you like it or not, China is a big power, and we have to take into consideration that they have policies, and find out how we can benefit from them.

“Not all the policies are bad for us; some can be very good, and it is up to us to find what is good for us and make use of it,” he told reporters yesterday after sending off Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at Parliament.

The ruler was there for the opening of the first meeting of the second session of the 14th Parliament.

Dr Mahathir also said he is unfazed by the political collaboration between Umno and PAS to protect the Malay community’s rights.

“It is up to them whether they want to be united or married; this is a free country. Unless it is a same-sex marriage, which this country does not allow yet,” he quipped.

Dr Mahathir said the ruling Pakatan Harapan coalition is protecting Malay rights as well.

“We are also looking after the interest of the Malays, except we do not shout [about it]. They try to separate the Malays and other races — that is very bad for a multiracial country.

“The interest of the Malays will be looked after by Pakatan. We want to make sure it is not only equal but also fair. Our relationship must not be just equal without fairness,” he said.

“So we will look after the interest of the Malays, and we have stated that we want an equitable share in the wealth of this country.”

Dr Mahathir also conceded there are occasions where certain cabinet members make public statements reflecting badly on the government.

“I must admit that many of us are very new. Sometimes we say things which may reflect badly on us, but you have to give us [some] time, because they (the previous Barisan Nasional government) had a 60-year lead against us. We are in the first year; [actually] not even the first year yet, [but there are] two months more to be the first year.

“But I don’t think everybody in Barisan are experts. Some of them make some silly mistakes, including the prime minister.”