Mahathir was a strong proponent of strengthened affirmative action for the Malays, and reportedly demanded (together with Syed Nasir Ismail and Syed Jaafar Albar) a one-party Malay-only government led by UMNO in the wake of the 13 May racial riots in Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital. He would later author The Malay Dilemma, which contended that the Malays as the "definitive people" of Malaysia had a birthright guaranteeing them special privileges such as those outlined by Article 153 of the Constitution of Malaysia. Musa, who was closely associated with Mahathir, thus became also associated with Mahathir's "ultra" approach to politics.
Mahathir advocated for enhanced affirmative action for Malays, and reportedly demanded (alongside Syed Nasir Ismail and Syed Jaafar Albar) a one-party Malay-only government led by UMNO following the 13 May racial riots in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. He later published "The Malay Dilemma," which argued that Malays as the "definitive people" of Malaysia had a birthright guaranteeing them special privileges such as those outlined by Article 153 of the Malaysian Constitution. Musa, who was closely associated with Mahathir, thus became also associated with Mahathir's "ultra" approach to politics.