في الحقبة الاستعمارية لم يُمنح الماليزيون المناصب العليا، فكنّا دائمًا في مرتبة تابعة. ولحسن حظّنا أنّ من تولّوا الحكم كانوا في معظمهم موظفين مدنيين، أي أشخاصًا كانوا يخدمون الحكومة.

“Malaysians, during the colonial period, were not given the top positions: we were always subordinate. Fortunately for us, the people who took over were mainly civil servants: people who were serving the Government.”Mahathir Mohamad — Interview with Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad