KUALA LUMPUR: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has warned that attitudes among some Malays, including taking shortcuts and seeking quick profits, could hinder their progress.
He said some had abandoned honesty and trustworthiness, resorting to corruption to maximise profits with minimal effort.
"And that has indeed been the bane of the Malay Muslims in the country, and focus is always turned on the SG4 states because the majority living there are Malay Muslims," he said at the SG4 Business and Economic Forum 2026.
SG4 comprises Kedah, Terengganu, Kelantan and Perlis, which are governed by Pas.
Dr Mahathir's speech was read by his son, Tan Sri Mokhzani Mahathir, as the former prime minister had yet to fully recover from health problems.
Dr Mahathir said Malays had the potential to excel in business and entrepreneurship if they upheld the values taught in Islam, particularly honesty, integrity and cleanliness.
"While not comparing Islam and other religions, but being a Muslim, I am made aware of the tenets in Islam; if we were to truly observe them, Malays would be very respectable in business.
"After all, Islam always reminds all Muslims of the gravity of punishment for those cheating and stealing, and that honesty provides among the highest merit.
"Even for that matter, for the benefit of those in the food and beverage industry, cleanliness is of the essence of a Muslim life.
"In other words, if Malays observe the tenets of Islam, they will be highly sought after for business and trade," he said.
He cautioned that despite SG4's ambitious plans to tap newly identified resources, the four states' greatest asset remained their people.
"If the people in these states do not share the same dreams, then whatever wealth that can be potentially exploited will not amount to much," he said.
Dr Mahathir also rejected the perception that people from the four states lacked business acumen, pointing out that many successful Malay entrepreneurs in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and other west coast states originated from SG4 states.
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