Political positions of Mahathir Mohamad: Difference between revisions

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Mahathir Mohamad's political views have shifted during his lengthy career. During the 1980s, he was a supporter of Third-Worldism, while during other periods he has been a proponent of "Asian values" and globalization.^[1] A Muslim thinker, he holds Islamic political views.^[1] In 2002, he characterised himself as a Islamic fundamentalist.^[2] Mahathir is generally respected in developing and Islamic countries,^[3] particularly due to his oversight of Malaysia's economic growth and his support of liberal Muslim values.^[4]

Mahathir has been described as a proponent of Malay nationalism.^[1] In The Malay Dilemma, he argued that the Malay race had been marginalised, and voiced his support for affirmative action policies for them.^[5] Upon his first resignation, he expressed his disappointment at the progress made towards his "principle task" of supporting the Malay race.^[5] In 2021, Mahathir said he did not believe in "Ketuanan Melayu", calling it a "fantasy", and said instead that he believed in "Bangsa Malaysia".^[6] He has been described as anti-royalist by Libération, owing to his efforts to oppose immunity for members of Malaysia's monarchies.^[7]

Mahathir is a vocal critic of neoliberalism^[1] and the Western world.^[8]^[3] In 2011, Mahathir suggested that the September 11 attacks might have been staged by the United States government.^[9]^[10] Mahathir condemned the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1997, suggesting it be revised to place greater importance on economic growth over civil liberties.^[11]

Allegations of antisemitism

A strident critic of Israel, Mahathir has been accused of antisemitism throughout his political life.^[12]^[8] In The Malay Dilemma, he wrote that "Jews are not merely hook-nosed, but understand money instinctively".^[13] In August 1983, Mahathir claimed in a speech that Jews control the international media.^[14] In March 1994, he banned the screening of Schindler's List on the grounds that he viewed it as anti-German, pro-Jewish propaganda.^[14] During the collapse of the ringgit and the economic crisis in 1997, he made a series of remarks blaming Jews, in particular George Soros, a Jewish "agenda", and "an international Jewish conspiracy" attempting to destroy the economies of Muslim countries.^[14]^[15]^[16]

During an Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit held in Kuala Lumpur in 2003, he accused Jews of "ruling the world by proxy" and getting "others to fight and die for them".^[17]^[18] His speech was denounced by President George W. Bush.^[19] In 2012, he claimed he was "glad to be labelled antisemitic".^[20] In a 2018 BBC interview he repeated similar statements, as well as disputing the number of Jews killed in the Holocaust.^[21] In 2019, when asked why he had previously claimed that Jews are "inclined towards money" he responded that he had Jewish friends, and that "they are not like the other Jews, that's why they are my friends."^[22] Mahathir has defended his comments about Jews as an exercise of free speech, and by claiming that "the Jews do a lot of wrong things which force us to pass comment."^[23]^[24]^[25]

LGBT rights

Mahathir opposes an expansion of LGBT rights in Malaysia.^[26]^[27] In 2001, Mahathir said that any homosexual ministers from the United Kingdom would be barred from entering Malaysia.^[28] During an October 2018 lecture to university students in Bangkok, Mahathir contrasted Malaysian values with those of Western nations and cited "the institution of marriage [and] the family" in his opposition to LGBT.^[26]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Schottmann, Sven (2018). Mahathir's Islam: Mahathir Mohamad on Religion and Modernity in Malaysia. University of Hawai'i Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-4674-9. JSTOR j.ctvvn4z8. Archived from the original on 15 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
^ Cite error: The named reference :16 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ^a ^b Cite error: The named reference warcrimes was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Bowring, Philip (23 September 1998). "Twin Shocks Will Leave Their Mark on Malaysia". International Herald Tribune. Archived from the original on 11 June 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2008.
^ ^a ^b "Mahathir Mohamad: The man who dominated Malaysian politics". BBC News. 8 May 2018. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
^ "I don't believe in 'Ketuanan Melayu' fantasy, says Dr M". Free Malaysia Today. 12 December 2021. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
^ Defranoux, Laurence. "Abdication surprise du roi de Malaisie". Libération (in French). Archived from the original on 15 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Malaysia's Mahathir says US seeking to provoke war in Taiwan". Associated Press. 19 August 2022. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
^ Roslan Rahman (11 September 2011). "Malaysia's Mahathir: 9/11 not work of Muslims". AFP News. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
^ AR, Zurairi (9 March 2015). "In Dr M's 'New World Order' meet, academics claim war on terror 'big US lie'". Malay Mail. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
^ "Madeleine Albright Sings Out". The New York Times. 2 August 1997. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
^ "Global Anti-Semitism Still Potent". The Anti-Defamation League. Archived from the original on 12 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
^ Sugarman, Daniel (17 January 2019). "Oxford Union criticised for inviting antisemitic Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad to speak". The Jewish Chronicle. Archived from the original on 25 January 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2019.
^ ^a ^b ^c Yegar, Moshe (2006). "Malaysia: Anti-Semitism Without Jews". Jewish Political Studies Review. 18 (3/4): 81–97. ISSN 0792-335X. JSTOR 25834698. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
^ Mydans, Seth (16 October 1997). "Malaysian Premier Sees Jews Behind Nation's Money Crisis". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
^ "Mahathir's dark side". The Daily Telegraph. London. 24 October 2003. Archived from the original on 21 April 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
^ Cite error: The named reference Ressa was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "Views on Jews By Malaysian: His Own Words". The New York Times. The Associated Press. 21 October 2003. Archived from the original on 12 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
^ "Bush rebukes Malaysia leader over remarks about Jews". CNN. 21 October 2003. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
^ "Dr M says glad to be called 'Antisemitic'". CFCA. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
^ "Cambridge Union audience laughs at anti-Semitic 'joke' by Malaysian prime minister". The Telegraph. 18 June 2019. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 24 October 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
^ Rahim, Zamira (17 June 2019). "Malaysia PM tells Cambridge Union his Jewish friends are 'not like other Jews'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
^ Cortellessa, Eric (26 September 2017). "A defiant Malaysian PM defends his anti-Semitism in the name of free speech". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
^ Lin, Koh Jun (25 September 2019). "In speech at Columbia, Mahathir cites free speech for anti-Semitic remarks". Malaysiakini. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
^ Harpin, Lee (18 June 2019). "Malaysia PM questioned why Jews 'resent' being called 'hook-nosed'". The Jewish Chronicle. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
^ ^a ^b "Mahathir claims LGBT rights are 'Western values' not fit for Malaysia". South China Morning Post. 26 October 2018. Archived from the original on 6 June 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
^ "Malaisie: le premier ministre rejette les revendications LGBT". LEFIGARO (in French). 25 October 2018. Archived from the original on 15 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
^ "Gay ministers barred, Malaysia tells UK". BBC News. 1 November 2001. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2023.

[:7-1] Schottmann, Sven (2018). Mahathir's Islam: Mahathir Mohamad on Religion and Modernity in Malaysia. University of Hawai'i Press. ISBN 978-0-8248-4674-9. JSTOR j.ctvvn4z8. Archived from the original on 15 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.

[:16-2] Cite error: The named reference :16 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[warcrimes-3] Cite error: The named reference warcrimes was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[4] Bowring, Philip (23 September 1998). "Twin Shocks Will Leave Their Mark on Malaysia". International Herald Tribune. Archived from the original on 11 June 2008. Retrieved 14 January 2008.

[:6-5] "Mahathir Mohamad: The man who dominated Malaysian politics". BBC News. 8 May 2018. Archived from the original on 22 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.

[6] "I don't believe in 'Ketuanan Melayu' fantasy, says Dr M". Free Malaysia Today. 12 December 2021. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2022.

[7] Defranoux, Laurence. "Abdication surprise du roi de Malaisie". Libération (in French). Archived from the original on 15 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.

[:8-8] "Malaysia's Mahathir says US seeking to provoke war in Taiwan". Associated Press. 19 August 2022. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 29 August 2022.

[9] Roslan Rahman (11 September 2011). "Malaysia's Mahathir: 9/11 not work of Muslims". AFP News. Archived from the original on 9 November 2014. Retrieved 10 November 2014.

[10] AR, Zurairi (9 March 2015). "In Dr M's 'New World Order' meet, academics claim war on terror 'big US lie'". Malay Mail. Archived from the original on 24 September 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.

[11] "Madeleine Albright Sings Out". The New York Times. 2 August 1997. Archived from the original on 4 January 2018. Retrieved 15 March 2019.

[12] "Global Anti-Semitism Still Potent". The Anti-Defamation League. Archived from the original on 12 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.

[13] Sugarman, Daniel (17 January 2019). "Oxford Union criticised for inviting antisemitic Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad to speak". The Jewish Chronicle. Archived from the original on 25 January 2019. Retrieved 24 January 2019.

[:1-14] Yegar, Moshe (2006). "Malaysia: Anti-Semitism Without Jews". Jewish Political Studies Review. 18 (3/4): 81–97. ISSN 0792-335X. JSTOR 25834698. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.

[15] Mydans, Seth (16 October 1997). "Malaysian Premier Sees Jews Behind Nation's Money Crisis". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 4 December 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.

[16] "Mahathir's dark side". The Daily Telegraph. London. 24 October 2003. Archived from the original on 21 April 2018. Retrieved 5 April 2018.

[Ressa-17] Cite error: The named reference Ressa was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[18] "Views on Jews By Malaysian: His Own Words". The New York Times. The Associated Press. 21 October 2003. Archived from the original on 12 May 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2018.

[19] "Bush rebukes Malaysia leader over remarks about Jews". CNN. 21 October 2003. Archived from the original on 18 March 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2018.

[20] "Dr M says glad to be called 'Antisemitic'". CFCA. Archived from the original on 26 September 2012. Retrieved 29 September 2012.

[21] "Cambridge Union audience laughs at anti-Semitic 'joke' by Malaysian prime minister". The Telegraph. 18 June 2019. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 24 October 2019. Retrieved 24 October 2019.

[22] Rahim, Zamira (17 June 2019). "Malaysia PM tells Cambridge Union his Jewish friends are 'not like other Jews'". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.

[23] Cortellessa, Eric (26 September 2017). "A defiant Malaysian PM defends his anti-Semitism in the name of free speech". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2021.

[24] Lin, Koh Jun (25 September 2019). "In speech at Columbia, Mahathir cites free speech for anti-Semitic remarks". Malaysiakini. Archived from the original on 26 September 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2021.

[25] Harpin, Lee (18 June 2019). "Malaysia PM questioned why Jews 'resent' being called 'hook-nosed'". The Jewish Chronicle. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.

[:5-26] "Mahathir claims LGBT rights are 'Western values' not fit for Malaysia". South China Morning Post. 26 October 2018. Archived from the original on 6 June 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.

[27] "Malaisie: le premier ministre rejette les revendications LGBT". LEFIGARO (in French). 25 October 2018. Archived from the original on 15 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.

[28] "Gay ministers barred, Malaysia tells UK". BBC News. 1 November 2001. Archived from the original on 2 August 2017. Retrieved 5 May 2023.

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+[[File:HE Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad, Prime Minister of Malaysia (44582220115).jpg|thumb|Mahathir speaking about "The Future of Democracy in Asia" in [[Chatham House]], United Kingdom]]
-#REDIRECT [[Mahathir_Mohamad#Political_positions_and_views]] {{Redirect category shell|
+[[Mahathir Mohamad]]'s political views have shifted during his lengthy career. During the 1980s, he was a supporter of [[Third-Worldism]], while during other periods he has been a proponent of "[[Asian values]]" and [[globalization]].<ref name=":7" /> A [[Islam in Malaysia|Muslim]] thinker, he holds [[Islamic Politics|Islamic political views]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite book |last=Schottmann |first=Sven |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvvn4z8 |title=Mahathir's Islam: Mahathir Mohamad on Religion and Modernity in Malaysia |date=2018 |publisher=University of Hawai'i Press |jstor=j.ctvvn4z8 |isbn=978-0-8248-4674-9 |access-date=15 November 2022 |archive-date=15 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115163815/https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvvn4z8 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2002, he characterised himself as a [[Islamic fundamentalism|Islamic fundamentalist]].<ref name=":16" /> Mahathir is generally respected in developing and [[Islamic countries]],<ref name="warcrimes" /> particularly due to his oversight of Malaysia's economic growth and his support of [[Liberalism and progressivism within Islam|liberal Muslim values]].<ref>{{cite news |author=Bowring, Philip |date=23 September 1998 |title=Twin Shocks Will Leave Their Mark on Malaysia |work=International Herald Tribune |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/1998/09/23/edbow.t_0.php |url-status=dead |access-date=14 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080611121810/http://www.iht.com/articles/1998/09/23/edbow.t_0.php |archive-date=11 June 2008}}</ref>
-{{R to section}}
-}}
+Mahathir has been described as a proponent of [[Malay nationalism]].<ref name=":7" /> In ''[[The Malay Dilemma]]'', he argued that the [[Malaysian Malays|Malay race]] had been marginalised, and voiced his support for [[affirmative action]] policies for them.<ref name=":6">{{Cite news |date=8 May 2018 |title=Mahathir Mohamad: The man who dominated Malaysian politics |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44028023 |url-status=live |access-date=15 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122132932/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44028023 |archive-date=22 November 2022}}</ref> Upon his first resignation, he expressed his disappointment at the progress made towards his "principle task" of supporting the Malay race.<ref name=":6" /> In 2021, Mahathir said he did not believe in "''[[Ketuanan Melayu]]''", calling it a "fantasy", and said instead that he believed in "[[Bangsa Malaysia]]".<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 December 2021 |title=I don't believe in 'Ketuanan Melayu' fantasy, says Dr M |url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/12/12/i-dont-believe-in-ketuanan-melayu-fantasy-says-dr-m/ |website=[[Free Malaysia Today]] |access-date=15 November 2022 |archive-date=12 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211212114214/https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/12/12/i-dont-believe-in-ketuanan-melayu-fantasy-says-dr-m/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He has been described as [[Anti-royalism|anti-royalist]] by ''[[Libération]]'', owing to his efforts to oppose [[Immunity from prosecution (international law)|immunity]] for members of [[Monarchies of Malaysia|Malaysia's monarchies]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Defranoux |first=Laurence |title=Abdication surprise du roi de Malaisie |url=https://www.liberation.fr/planete/2019/01/06/abdication-surprise-du-roi-de-malaisie_1701288/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115165633/https://www.liberation.fr/planete/2019/01/06/abdication-surprise-du-roi-de-malaisie_1701288/ |archive-date=15 November 2022 |access-date=15 November 2022 |website=Libération |language=fr}}</ref>
+Mahathir is a vocal critic of [[neoliberalism]]<ref name=":7" /> and the Western world.<ref name=":8">{{cite web |date=19 August 2022 |title=Malaysia's Mahathir says US seeking to provoke war in Taiwan |url=https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-2022-midterm-elections-biden-taiwan-nato-96f52741ce6e9e6a2cdcfce5fd459ad8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220829161943/https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-2022-midterm-elections-biden-taiwan-nato-96f52741ce6e9e6a2cdcfce5fd459ad8 |archive-date=29 August 2022 |access-date=29 August 2022 |website=[[Associated Press]]}}</ref><ref name="warcrimes" /> In 2011, Mahathir suggested that the [[September 11 attacks]] might have been [[9/11 conspiracy theories|staged by the United States government]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Roslan Rahman |date=11 September 2011 |title=Malaysia's Mahathir: 9/11 not work of Muslims |work=AFP News |url=https://my.news.yahoo.com/malaysias-mahathir-9-11-not-muslims-045737526.html |url-status=live |access-date=10 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109114620/https://my.news.yahoo.com/malaysias-mahathir-9-11-not-muslims-045737526.html |archive-date=9 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=AR |first=Zurairi |date=9 March 2015 |title=In Dr M's 'New World Order' meet, academics claim war on terror 'big US lie' |url=https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2015/03/09/in-dr-ms-new-world-order-meet-academics-claim-war-on-terror-big-us-lie/855701 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924060323/https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2015/03/09/in-dr-ms-new-world-order-meet-academics-claim-war-on-terror-big-us-lie/855701 |archive-date=24 September 2021 |access-date=24 September 2021 |website=[[Malay Mail]] |language=en}}</ref> Mahathir condemned the [[Universal Declaration of Human Rights]] in 1997, suggesting it be revised to place greater importance on economic growth over [[civil liberties]].<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2 August 1997 |title=Madeleine Albright Sings Out |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/02/opinion/madeleine-albright-sings-out.html |url-status=live |access-date=15 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104181455/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/08/02/opinion/madeleine-albright-sings-out.html |archive-date=4 January 2018}}</ref>
+== Allegations of antisemitism ==
+A strident [[Criticism of the Israeli government|critic of Israel]], Mahathir has been accused of [[antisemitism]] throughout his political life.<ref>{{cite web |title=Global Anti-Semitism Still Potent |url=https://www.adl.org/news/op-ed/global-anti-semitism-still-potent |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512112804/https://www.adl.org/news/op-ed/global-anti-semitism-still-potent |archive-date=12 May 2018 |access-date=11 May 2018 |website=[[The Anti-Defamation League]] |publisher=}}</ref><ref name=":8" /> In ''[[The Malay Dilemma]],'' he wrote that "Jews are not merely hook-nosed, but understand money instinctively".<ref>{{cite web |last=Sugarman |first=Daniel |date=17 January 2019 |title=Oxford Union criticised for inviting antisemitic Malaysian prime minister Mahathir Mohamad to speak |url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/oxford-union-criticised-for-inviting-antisemitic-malaysian-prime-minister-mahathir-mohamad-to-speak-1.478744 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190125020442/https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/oxford-union-criticised-for-inviting-antisemitic-malaysian-prime-minister-mahathir-mohamad-to-speak-1.478744 |archive-date=25 January 2019 |access-date=24 January 2019 |work=[[The Jewish Chronicle]]}}</ref> In August 1983, Mahathir claimed in a speech that [[Jews control the media|Jews control the international media]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Yegar |first=Moshe |date=2006 |title=Malaysia: Anti-Semitism Without Jews |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/25834698 |url-status=live |journal=[[Jewish Political Studies Review]] |volume=18 |issue=3/4 |pages=81–97 |issn=0792-335X |jstor=25834698 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204152312/https://www.jstor.org/stable/25834698 |archive-date=4 December 2021 |access-date=4 December 2021}}</ref> In March 1994, he banned the screening of ''[[Schindler's List]]'' on the grounds that he viewed it as anti-German, pro-Jewish propaganda.<ref name=":1" /> During the collapse of the [[Malaysian ringgit|ringgit]] and the [[1997 Asian financial crisis#Malaysia|economic crisis]] in 1997, he made a series of remarks blaming Jews, in particular [[George Soros]], a Jewish "agenda", and "an [[international Jewish conspiracy]]" attempting to destroy the economies of Muslim countries.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Mydans |first=Seth |date=16 October 1997 |title=Malaysian Premier Sees Jews Behind Nation's Money Crisis |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/16/world/malaysian-premier-sees-jews-behind-nation-s-money-crisis.html |url-status=live |access-date=4 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204151154/https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/16/world/malaysian-premier-sees-jews-behind-nation-s-money-crisis.html |archive-date=4 December 2021 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=24 October 2003 |title=Mahathir's dark side |work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/3597972/Mahathirs-dark-side.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180421180307/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/3597972/Mahathirs-dark-side.html |archive-date=21 April 2018}}</ref>
+During an [[Organisation of Islamic Cooperation|Organization of Islamic Cooperation]] summit held in [[Kuala Lumpur]] in 2003, he accused Jews of "ruling the world by proxy" and getting "others to fight and die for them".<ref name="Ressa"/><ref>{{cite news |date=21 October 2003 |title=Views on Jews By Malaysian: His Own Words |work=The New York Times |agency=The Associated Press |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/21/world/views-on-jews-by-malaysian-his-own-words.html |url-status=live |access-date=11 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512113255/https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/21/world/views-on-jews-by-malaysian-his-own-words.html |archive-date=12 May 2018}}</ref> His speech was denounced by President [[George W. Bush]].<ref>{{cite news |date=21 October 2003 |title=Bush rebukes Malaysia leader over remarks about Jews |agency=CNN |url=http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/10/20/rice.mahathir/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=11 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160318091827/http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/asiapcf/southeast/10/20/rice.mahathir/index.html |archive-date=18 March 2016}}</ref> In 2012, he claimed he was "glad to be labelled antisemitic".<ref>{{cite web|title=Dr M says glad to be called 'Antisemitic'|url=http://antisemitism.org.il/article/74691/dr-m-says-glad-be-called-%E2%80%98antisemitic%E2%80%99|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926220654/http://antisemitism.org.il/article/74691/dr-m-says-glad-be-called-%E2%80%98antisemitic%E2%80%99|archive-date=26 September 2012|access-date=29 September 2012|publisher=CFCA}}</ref> In a 2018 BBC interview he repeated similar statements, as well as disputing the number of Jews killed in [[the Holocaust]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/06/17/cambridge-union-audience-laughs-anti-semitic-joke-malaysian/|title=Cambridge Union audience laughs at anti-Semitic 'joke' by Malaysian prime minister|date=18 June 2019|work=The Telegraph|access-date=24 October 2019|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024133349/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/06/17/cambridge-union-audience-laughs-anti-semitic-joke-malaysian/|archive-date=24 October 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, when asked why he had previously claimed that Jews are "inclined towards money" he responded that he had Jewish friends, and that "they are not like the other Jews, that's why they are my friends."<ref>{{Cite web|date=17 June 2019|title=Malaysia PM tells Cambridge Union his Jewish friends are 'not like other Jews'|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/mahathir-mohamed-anti-semitic-cambridge-union-jewish-malaysia-a8962246.html|access-date=7 November 2021|website=The Independent|first=Zamira|last=Rahim|language=en|archive-date=7 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107013237/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/mahathir-mohamed-anti-semitic-cambridge-union-jewish-malaysia-a8962246.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Mahathir has defended his comments about Jews as an exercise of [[Freedom of speech|free speech]], and by claiming that "the Jews do a lot of wrong things which force us to pass comment."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Cortellessa|first=Eric|title=A defiant Malaysian PM defends his anti-Semitism in the name of free speech|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/a-defiant-malaysian-pm-defends-his-anti-semitism-in-the-name-of-free-speech/|access-date=16 February 2021|work=The Times of Israel|date=26 September 2017|language=en-US|archive-date=26 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926224725/https://www.timesofisrael.com/a-defiant-malaysian-pm-defends-his-anti-semitism-in-the-name-of-free-speech/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Lin|first=Koh Jun|date=25 September 2019|title=In speech at Columbia, Mahathir cites free speech for anti-Semitic remarks|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/493315|access-date=16 February 2021|website=Malaysiakini|language=en|archive-date=26 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926225023/https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/493315|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk/prime-minister-of-malaysia-questioned-why-jews-resent-being-called-hook-nosed-cambridge-union-1.485530|access-date=7 November 2021|work=The Jewish Chronicle|date=18 June 2019|first=Lee|last=Harpin|title=Malaysia PM questioned why Jews 'resent' being called 'hook-nosed'|archive-date=7 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107013237/https://www.thejc.com/news/uk/prime-minister-of-malaysia-questioned-why-jews-resent-being-called-hook-nosed-cambridge-union-1.485530|url-status=live}}</ref>
+== LGBT rights ==
+Mahathir opposes an expansion of [[LGBT rights in Malaysia]].<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=26 October 2018 |title=Mahathir claims LGBT rights are 'Western values' not fit for Malaysia |url=https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/2170274/mahathir-mohamad-claims-lgbt-rights-are-western-values-will |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190606163319/https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/2170274/mahathir-mohamad-claims-lgbt-rights-are-western-values-will |archive-date=6 June 2019 |access-date=29 May 2019 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 October 2018 |title=Malaisie: le premier ministre rejette les revendications LGBT |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2018/10/25/97001-20181025FILWWW00195-malaisie-le-premier-ministre-contre-les-revendications-lgbt.php |access-date=15 November 2022 |website=LEFIGARO |language=fr |archive-date=15 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221115144840/https://www.lefigaro.fr/flash-actu/2018/10/25/97001-20181025FILWWW00195-malaisie-le-premier-ministre-contre-les-revendications-lgbt.php |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2001, Mahathir said that any homosexual ministers from the United Kingdom would be barred from entering Malaysia.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1 November 2001 |title=Gay ministers barred, Malaysia tells UK |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1632012.stm |access-date=5 May 2023 |archive-date=2 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802140647/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1632012.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> During an October 2018 lecture to university students in [[Bangkok]], Mahathir contrasted Malaysian values with those of Western nations and cited "the institution of marriage [and] the family" in his opposition to LGBT.<ref name=":5" />
+==References==