Tun Dr. Mahathir: Everybody gets something in ‘Social Contract’

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad said this morning that the ‘social contract’ was not actually a documented agreement, but a verbal agreement between Alliance Leaders, prior to achieving a voice of unity as a nation and gained independence.

“Something for the Malays, something to the others” when explaining that the Malays were willing to accept 1 million Chinese ethnic origin as citizens and given equal rights, during press conference at the 25^th Look East Policy Alumni in Shah Alam.

When asked was ‘social contract’ actually meant ‘economic contract’, he disagreed and said “It encompassed everything; politics, economics, social”. Then he went on explaining that the ‘economic contract’ portion of the ‘social contract’ meant that the economic cake was expanded, and without taking from the non Malay segment, the expanded portion is shared by the Malays, for their development agenda. Another example he quoted that even though Bahasa Melayu was made the national and official language, other people are free to use their own mother-tongue, even in schools.

When asked to comment on UMNO Vice President Tan Sri Muhyiddin Mohd. Yasin’s statement on his readiness to contest as the ‘No.1 or 2’, “Encouraging statement. Others should also express their views openly”. When asked to clarify, Tun Dr. Mahathir said UMNO today had become a ‘party of fear’ where “Members are afraid to voice their opinion and rather keeping quiet, until the General Elections, then only we know!”.

As a message on UMNO’s 62^nd celebrations, “Happy Birthday” and add “UMNO should stick closely to the principles of the formation of UMNO, which is democratic. But now, UMNO is democratic and efforts are made to stop members from having their EGM, to voice their feelings and ask for the quota system be dissolved’.

The issue of the quota system as the tool originally designed to curb money politics and now abused by Leadership to maintain the power-grip was also raised as parcel of UMNO’s democratization program that grassroot wanted to see.

Tun Dr. Mahathir ought to be given a “Golden Handshake”

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad reacted to the issue of his allowance accorded to him in a privilege as the Petronas Adviser, as per raised by PKR MP for Kulim-Bandar Baru Zulkifli Nordin in Dewan Rakyat, as per reported by alternative media this morning.

He explained that he would have given service to the organisations that he still serve, like Proton, LADA and Tioman Development Authority even when there are no emoluments paid to him in any form aka pro-bono, what so ever.

By convention of regular commercial practices, even globally, the former Prime Minister ought to be given a “Golden Handshake” to recognize the contributions and illustrious service that he had given for this tanahair, as an office bearer.

The norm is that one be given at least the last drawn salaries and allowances, one month for every completed year of service.

That is RM 22,826.65 (PM’s salary) + RM 14,907.20 (Minister’s salary) + RM 6,508.59 (MP’s salary), which comes about to RM 44, 242.44 per month for every year’s service (based on current emoluments received). For the 29 years he served as Minister of Education, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Trade and Industry, Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs and Minister of Finance, he should be given a RM 1.283 million in one bullet payment as “golden handshake”, as practiced by many organisations in the world, in recognition of the illustrious service rendered.

If housing, entertainment and personal allowances, as per enjoyed by the serving office bearers are factored in, then the sum should be more. That is the least this nation could do for the Statesman.

‘Melayu ini tidak lupa’

Tun Dr. Mahathir begins to blog

Former Prime Minister and now Statesman Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad today operationalised his blog, CheDet.com

He had been an avid supporter of the blogs as the new media and alternative to the skewed and grossly spunned mainstream media. He had also been friendly to bloggers and allowed a lot of healthy, open and cordial interactions with them. Several online Malaysian-based political portals, like MyKMU.net and MalaysiaToday.net have been allowed to organise talk sessions with him, even at his own office.

This openness policy is most welcomed, especially when an 83 year old world class leader, is able to embrace the technology of communications. His personal thoughts and speeches, will now be able to transcend at unimaginable speed, vector and proportions, otherwise in the past, have been carried out by other blogs, including this one.

We, at BigDogDotDom, wish Chedet.com all the best.

SYABAS!

An unhealthy trend developing

The recent decision of a senior GERAKAN leader to take a job under the DAP Government of Penang should not be taken lightly by the BN if it wishes to survive and regain support of its members and supporters.

2. The GERAKAN leader may be motivated by a genuine desire to work for the good of Penang and Malaysia. But it may also be because loyalty to BN is now based on personal gains or fear of punishment of some kind.

3. This is especially so among the leaders. There is no genuine love for the objectives said to be the raison d’etre for the party’s existence. They are all fighting to get a piece of the cake that the party would be able to distribute when it wins elections. They could become Ministers or Menteri Besars or Deputy Ministers or Speakers. They could get contracts or licenses, APs etc.

4. When the party loses these will not be forthcoming. The reason for supporting the party would disappear.

5. The rank and file on the other hand stands to gain nothing win or lose. The party is not any longer for the general good of the country but only for lining the pockets of the leaders. So why should the ordinary members help the leaders to line their pockets.

6. The party can keep on making promises but the members know that these promises are empty.

7. Supposing the opposition are smart enough to provide good Government, to look after the interests of the ordinary people, to lead a Spartan life like not flying in chartered planes when going to Kuala Lumpur or taking Excos and Divisional heads on jaunts to foreign countries, then those people who voted for the opposition out of anger against the BN in 2008, would transfer their loyalty permanently to the Opposition.

8. When that happens BN, UMNO and other component parties can forget about recapturing the states lost to the opposition. Their turn-coat members (saboteurs as they are classified by Dato Seri Abdullah) will remain turn-coats and will actively work against the BN at the next election. To lose once is bad but to lose a second time in Malaysian election is an unmitigated disaster.

9. The window of opportunity will close pretty soon. Unless drastic actions are taken now, there would be no time to rehabilitate BN and UMNO and indeed all the other BN component parties for the next election. When this happens and BN is totally defeated the leaders who mismanaged the BN will go down in history as betrayers of the parties which had so successfully defeated the Malayan Union, gained independence for the country and developed it to what it is today.

10. The leaders still have a choice. Continue supporting a person under whom the BN and its component parties were defeated or stop being self-serving and return to the true national struggle. You may gain something for yourself personally today but your children and grand children will pay a terrible price.

11. The choice is yours.

Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad

Expose War Crimes: Criminalise War

ADDRESS

by

TUN Dr. MAHATHIR MOHAMAD

“EXPOSE WAR CRIMES: CRIMINALISE WAR”

IMPERIAL COLLEGE

KENSINGTON

LONDON

It 1.It is heartening to be asked to speak on criminalizing war – a subject that needs to be taken up by all civilized people. How can we claim to be civilized when we condone and legalise mass killings of men, women and children, the old and the sick as a solution to conflicts between nations. We usually consider the most successful killers, the ones who do the most amount of damage as the winners and they are entitled to put thr losers on trial and punish them, including murdering them. The judges in these courts are nationals of the winning countries. There can be no impartiality.

2. 2. Yet at the same time we consider murder as a very serious crime which merit severe punishment. The more civilized countries claim to be so concerned about human life that they have abolished the death penalty, even for murderes.

3. 3. But these same countries and these same people consider the bombing innocent civilians, launching explosive missiles against them, machine gunning and blowing them up with grenades as ligitimise and morally right.

4. 4. There is something wrong there. How can we object to the murder of individual when approve mass killing of innocent people. Yet that is what we do in war – we kill people, not always soldiers who may kill us but, now, more and more often, innocent civilians who can do us no harm.

5. 5. War was in the ancient times a necessary option in the settlement of conflicts between primitive people of nations. But in thoese days the capacity to kill and to destroy was limited. The weapons used were incapable of mass destruction or mass killings. Soldiers had to handle the swords, bows and arrows, spears and daggers themselves. They had to face the enemies who were similarly armed. If they failed to kill the enemy they would be killed themselves.

6. 6. Wars were fought by soldiers on battle fields in those days. Of the necessity the armies were small and the killings were relatively small. The losers would submit to the victors and the war would be over. The killings would also stop.

7. 7. But over time the war-like nations developed more and more lethal weapons and the killings have become more massive. Now we are seeing weapons of mass destruction capable of killing hundreds of thousands, not on battle fields but just about anywhere. The whole country is made a battlefield, sparing neither towns nor countryside, neither soldiers nor civilians, the old, the sick and the disabled men, women and children. The killings and the devastation is total.

8. 8. Such is the callousness of the human race that we see the killings and the wounds inflicted as just numbers, as casualties, and now as collaterals. The warriors gleefully notch their weapons to record scores of kills. It is as if these victims are not human. Yet the sufferings and the pain are very real to these people, to their families and friends.

9. 9. These people may killed by the wounds inflicted, or they may have their limbs and their heads torn off from their bodies while still alive. The sufferings may be over quickly but imagine having parts of your body torn off, your head pulled out from your neck.

10. For those who survive, the pain and the suffering must be terrible. And in most cases no help would be forthcoming, no medical aid and, no hospitals to be taken to. They may lie there on the roads, of the fields or buried and crushed under fallen buildings, for hours with no hope for rescue. They may suffer horribly for hours until death relives them.

11. We are not talking about one or two persons. With modern weapons, hundreds and thousands would experience this horror, the pain and death.

12. We would strive hard to raise money to treat one cancer patient for example. We are so human and humane. Yet we think nothing of killing healthy people by ten of thousands.

13. We read about the war, we even see pictures and TV coverage of war but we hardly ever get to see the real sufferings of the victims of war. We practically enjoy the TV coverage of war without thinking about the sufferings of fellow-humans just like us who had been wounded and killed in real life, not just in the cinema or TV screens.

14. We do not think of the smell of war, of the smell of rotting bodies, of gangrenous legs and arms, because our television cannot bring these odours to our comfortable sitting room. In fact the TV cameras avoid showing the horrors resulting from the war. They do not want to offend our sensitivities. Nor do they record and broadcast the screams of pain of the wounded and the dying.

15. We must all know that war is about pain and death and destruction. But after the civilised countries of the West developed standing armies to replace the irregular rabbles, the state and the leaders of these countries began to glorify war. They promoted the idea that war was noble and those who fought wars and die or were wounded were heroes and the icons of the people. They struck medals to decorate the killers they sent into battle.

16. Soldiers in the standing armies began to be fitted with smart uniforms embellished with stars and gold braids. They glorify the killers with statues and monuments. And stories are told of their exploits i.e. of the murders they committed. Eternal flames burn over their graves.

17. In peace times they were made to parade in their smart uniforms, proudly showing off their skills at marching with precision like so many mechanical brainless robots. And indeed their brains had nothing in them other than thoughts of killing. The leaders are so proud and the girls are thrilled at the sight of these brainless killers.

18. They were continuously trained in killing people, not necessarily enemy soldiers. There were elite troops, equipped with the best weapons, and trained to kill in the most hideous ways. They were taught how to creep up to an unsuspecting victim and slit his throat. There was no thought about the victim being as his attacker, most likely with wife and children, brothers and sisters. There was no thought that a moment ago he was alive and breathing, just like his attacker. He must be killed because he was the enemy.

19. These elite forces troops invariably undergo a psychological cange. They became killers, pitiless killers. They look forward to wars so they can put their killing skills into practise.

20. But for years there may be no war. They retire and try to take up civilian life. But they are trained murderers. The forces have released murderers in the midst of ordinary people.

21. They will find difficulty to adjust. Hardened and trained to look at killings as a vocation, they either become criminals, murderers or psychopaths.

22. Those soldiers who had to serve on the war front, fighting and killing and witnessing the horrors and becoming immune to the sufferings of others cannot but become psychopaths also. They would find difficulty to adjust to civilian life. They may become mentally deranged.

23. In todays war waged by the U.S. the soldiers may be exposed to radiation, if not from nuclear explosions, perhaps from handling shells etc coated with depleted uranium. They will suffer from radiation sicknesses, from cancer.

24. The people who sent these young people to fight their wars will be safe. They will eat well, drink well, and enjoy life’s luxuries. It is the young who will suffer, who will pay the ultimate price.

25. The novelists, the television and film producers will concoct glorious stories of war and heroes. It does not matter if they are blatant lies. It is good for making money. The U.S. lost the war in Vietnam but on the cinema and TV screens Rambo would single-handedly defeat the whole Vietnamese army. And the Americans and their allies just love it. They would feel so proud seeing the exploits of Rambo on the screens.

26. And youngsters would be taken in with the pictorial glory depicted and would be persuaded to join the killers in the armed forces, to gloriously kill and wound the enemies.

27. The leaders of the countries with the finest team of killers equipped with the best arms would not hesitate to send their young people to their death based on fabricated lies. That was what happened in Iraq. But the people of these countries re-elected these liars so they may continue to send the cream of their young people to their death.

28. That is what war really is – not a glorious struggle for democracy and human rights, but merely to satisfy the crazy ambitions of lying leaders of the powerful countries. In the old days leaders and generals lead from the front. The cowardly leaders of today stay clear thousands of miles from the front, sipping wine and gorging themselves on the finest food.

29. Even as we talk here, wars are going on in several places initiated by the bullies of the world. People are being killed and maimed. We need to make quick progress with the criminalisation of war.

30. It will not be easy of course. William Wilberforce spent 20 long years to get the British Parliament to outlaw slave trading nearly 300 years ago. But slave trading is nothing compared to the killings and the breaches of basic human rights in modern war. This is not to say that slavery and slave trading are less heinous than war. But the struggle against war is far more serious because every day newer killing machines are being invented by the rich and powerful in order to kill more people. And the urge to try out these machines is very strong.

31. Actually, these new weapons are bankrupting the nations of the world. To recover the cost of research, development and production these advanced countries are selling their weapons to countries which can ill afford them.

32. As soon as the weapons are sold to the poor, newer weapons would be invented or the previous weapons would be modified and updated. Then the arms salesmen would come again. If a country refuses to buy, a neighbouring country would be persuaded to buy. Then the salesmen would return to the first country and broadly hint that if it does not buy then its forces would be inferior to its neighbours.

33. Even if the countries are not at war with each other, their military personnel would feel unhappy if they cannot have the new toys. And so money that the poor can ill-afford would flow to the rich countries. As the weapons are upgraded and newer weapons invented the flow of money to the rich would become a deluge. The poor will get even poorer.

34. The worst part is that the poor countries will probably have no occasion to use the sophisticated weapons. Yet they have to be maintained at high cost while they give no returns at all to the poor nations.

35. The arms trade is destroying the economies of many poor countries. Yet the exporting countries are not benefitting either. They have to continue investing in research and development of newer and efficient killing machines. The cost will mount and keep mounting as the new technologies and innovative designs require even more sophistication and expensive material. And if the powerful countries go to war, as America has done in Iraq, the cost to the country is mind-boggling. The cost of the war in Iraq for the U.S. is estimated by Joseph Stiglitz the Nobel Laureate to be more than US$ 3 trillion dollars so far. It is going to go on gulping more and more money. Even the U.S. cannot afford to lose this amount of money, especially when victory has not and will not be achieved. Imagine what we can do for the poor and the sick of the world with just a fraction of the 3 trillion.

36. And the whole world is suffering also. Everyone has to spend more money on security, air travel is no longer safe, and lots of money have to be expanded on checking the so-called Muslim terrorists. Far from war against Iraq resulting in the spread of democracy in the Middle East, it has brought about the spread of instability and insecurity to the whole world.

37. War is truly not an option in this modern world. The militarily powerful such as the US and European countries cannot win any war, their sophisticated and costly weapons notwithstanding. This is because the defeat of the enemy, no matter how weak, will not end in victory for the winner. The Governments may surrender and sign a peace treaty but the people will not. They will continue to fight with whatever means they have. Bitter over their countries’ defeat and occupation they will not stop fighting.

38. Against these people all the modern weapons, the helicopter gunships, missiles, bombs, rockets, stealth aircrafts and jet fighters, special forces, tanks, warships are quite useless. Once in a while the nationalists might get lucky and destroy a multi-million dollar aircraft and tank.

39. In Vietnam the powerful U.S. military was soundly thrashed by pyjama-clad Viet peasants until the U.S. ran away helter-skelter. In Afghanistan the Taliban successfully confined the NATO forces to certain towns only. In Baghdad, the American and British forces have achieved none of the objectives. Killing Saddam had not resulted in ending the war. “Shock and Awe” have not overawed the Iraqis and forced them into submitting.

40. Surge and new forces have cost more money and more deaths of U.S. soldiers, more mental diseases amongst them with no sign of bringing the war to an end or making Iraq a successful democracy.

41. The rich countries may come up with all kind of costly weapons capable of killing more people efficiently but all these weapons will not win wars against the people determined to fight and preserve their independence.

42. Perhaps the weapons, including nuclear weapons can be employed in a war amongst the militarily powerful. Perhaps they cab be used by the U.S. and Britain against Russia and China. They may be able to pulverize these countries but these countries would also wreak havoc in the aggressor countries. In fact the whole world will be destroyed by war between the powerful countries.

43. The rich and militarily powerful countries should take note of this. All their money, weapons and tactical skills will avail them of nothing. They will lose fighting against the countries weaker than them, and they will suffer death and destruction if they fight against countries which can match their military capability. In the end, they would still achieve nothing.

44. Clearly war is no longer an option, not just because of the massive death and destruction that modern weaponry can inflict but also because the cost of war has gone up so much that even rich countries like the U.S. can be bankrupted. As Joseph Stiglitz has computed the war in Iraq has so far cost the US $ 3 trillion dollars. The U.S. is bankrupt and this war will prevent the U.S. from ever settling its debts. Of course it can just not pay. That is the prerogative of the strong. The belief that the might is right still holds.

45. But as I pointed out, because of the virtual arms race caused by the high pressure sales tactics by arms salesmen, other countries have also become financial strapped. Indeed the whole world is now heading for financial disaster partly because of investing in ever more sophisticated and ever more costly arms. And for what? They are never going to win any war with these weapons.

46. The rise in oil prices are connected with war. And oil prices affect the process of all goods. In other words, the increase in oil prices brings about inflation. The poor of this world will be the ones most affected. But the rich will suffer also. We are seeing this happening now.

47. The wars will be clearly bankrupt the world. And yet the wars will solve none of the problems of humanity, none of the conflicts between nations. The cost in human lives and property is literally killing.

48. Looked at from any angle, war is a great waste of everything. So why are we still going to war? Why are we still killing people and destroying wealth when we are not getting anything from our wars?

49. We claim to be civilized. How civilized is a society where duels and killings are legally accepted as a way of settling quarrels. Would justice be served when the winner usually is the one skilled in killing? The end result must be a society of killers

50. Yet war between nations is actually duel on a grand scale. Seventy million people were killed in the Second World War. Property that was worth trillions of dollars were destroyed. The Allies proclaimed the winners. But what have the winners got to show for all these? Was justice served? Were the people killed brought back to life? Was the huge sums of money expended recovered? Was there any profit for anyone?

51. The answer to all these questions must be resounding “NO”. No one gained anything from war. Everyone lost. And the cost in human suffering is inmeasurable.

52. We cannot claim to be civilized when we kill and destroy in order to prove how right we are or how just and fair we are.

53. How long more are going to do this? We are already capable of destroying the whole world. Must we wait until we do this before we stop, before we declare wars as illegal and the people who initiate wars as criminals? By that time you must agree it would be too late. War must be stopped now. War must be regarded as a crime. The people and especially their leaders who resort to war in order to settle disputes between them and others must be regarded as criminals, must be made to face charges in a court of law and be punished appropriately. Until then let us not claim that we are civilised.

54. I say criminalize war and punish the leaders and the people who resort to war in order to settle disputes with other countries.

End

Hardtalk: Tun Dr. Mahathir compared to Anwar Ibrahim?

Two days post the landmark BBC program “Hardtalk” on Monday, 21 April 2007.

It is only wise to compare how Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad faired against his onetime-heir-apparent-turned-political-adversary Former Deputy Prime Minister and onetime convict Anwar Ibrahim, on the same platform, being grilled (although the latter were lucky enough to get the more milder Zeinab Badawi instead of caffeine-charged Stephen Sackur).

So, make your own comparisons.

P/S: For fun, we’ll throw in someone currently still in Government, then Foreign Minister Dato’ Seri Syed Hamid Albar, on the same program being interviewed by Sarah Montague.

*Updated as at 11.15pm

Apparently, there was this one Sackur grilled Former Deputy Prime Minister and one time convict Anwar Ibrahim, two years earlier than Miss Badawi’s. This is really an interesting one. So, now do the comparisons.

Tun Dr. Mahathir on Hardtalk: “He (PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah) is making use of the system in the worsts ways!”

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad today described PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi as “Making a political move, a very unpopular man trying to do something ‘right’”. “He is making use of the system in the worst ways”, when reacting to the suggestion of the Prime Minister attempting to “make good against the Judiciary”, which purportedly was damaged during the former’s time.

Talking to Stephen Sackur in a BBC “Hardtalk” first aired this afternoon, who described him as “A personified fellow and opponents call him a ‘Dictator and Racist’ ”. The program was taped in London on Friday, 18 April 2008. This was his first interview on air in a foreign media since the 12^th Malaysia General Elections on 8 March 2008.

He said “Results of the GE show former supporters of the ruling party (BN), voted Oppositions, not because they liked them!”. When asked for the reason, the stern response was “The Government promised to remove corruption but they themselves are corrupt”. He also explained that PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah must go now because the next leader needed time to revive the party and the support and unless there are changes, then this might be the beginning of the end of BN.

On the New Economic Policy, “It was a system initiated by my predecessors. The system worked for the past 50 years, and had worked very well. It was to correct the imbalance created since the British days”. Sackur asked about “The real discontent” from different ethic groups in the country and charged, Malaysia, especially during Tun Dr. Mahathir’s time, practiced racial-biased policies. Sackur remarked that the NEP is no longer relevant, nor acceptable. He even quoted Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s statement. The former Prime Minister’s response was “Malaysia is built for all. Everyone is prosperous. All benefited from the Government policies and progressed. Why only now and not during my time?”.

Then Sackur charged if people were to voice out against him then, they would be arrested. “Hundreds of people were arrested?”, Tun Dr. Mahathir’s instant response, “Who are they?” and vehemently contradicted the host with “The first thing I did as the Prime Minister, was to release many political detainees”. He then added that foreign media is fond of making up these stories and end up propagating them as “the truth”. “Tell me who are the hundreds who I have put in prison (for political reason)?”.

In the case of Anwar Ibrahim, when asked to comment about having the support of many, and even BN MPs are ready to defect, and wanted to make changes in the system, including racially-based policies, “He is welcomed to do that, when he becomes the PM” and added, “The present leadership should be blamed for losing the support of the BN MPs”.

On issues raised by Anwar, which is favourable to the minority groups “Now, there is an opportunity for him. He was in Government before. He did not complain”. Then the issue about his arrest and conviction was trumped up and now proposing that the former regretted on that episode, “Why should I regret? He was arrested under the laws of the country, tried under the laws of the country and locked up for abuse of power. This is accordance to the Malaysian law”. Sackur then added that Anwar wanted to do a full and thorough public inquiry for all of Tun Dr. Mahathir’s wrong doings in the 22 years in office. He responded with sarcasm, “Let’s see if he can obtain a fully impartial inquiry. Probably he can get foreigners”.

When responding to Sackur’s list of Western report of unfair trial for Anwar, Tun Dr. Mahathir asked in return “What are the track record of these countries? These are the sort of people who arrest people without law and trial, like Guantanamo Bay”. Then, the issue was raised about the use of the Internal Security Act, which was put in place as an Emergency Ordinance by the British. “We did it under the law of the country. We needed to prevent people from causing racial riot and disharmony”. He later elaborated on Malaysia being multi-ethnic and multi-religious society.

On the Judiciary, relating to the issue involving a video with lawyer V K Lingam purportedly talking on the phone and mentioning Tun Dr. Mahathir’s name, “This man had his video taken because he was defending me. This man was defending me, and Anwar is the one who released this tape. Anwar wanted to blackmail him!”.

On the move by PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah making ex-gratia payments to dismissed Lord President Tun Mohamed Salleh Abas and five Supreme Court Judges, “A political move by a very unpopular man, trying to do “something right”. He is not dismantling the system. He is making use of the system in worst ways!”. What he did not say was, none of the members of the bench attended the Bar Council dinner where PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah made the announcement.

About the appointment of PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah, Tun Dr. Mahathir explained that the former seemed ‘clean’ and ‘pious’ when he was appointed as the successor, even though he did not have the bigger support as the Vice President of UMNO. “We all made mistakes. Just like the British people made a mistake by putting a liar like Blair to power”.

The debate continued towards democracy. He elaborated that democracy has to be fully understood and used with the right intention, otherwise, it can turn into anarchy. He also quoted that many earlier civilizations did not practice democracy and they turned out to be great. “Democracy is good when the leader is good”. He reminded that “It was a leader of a democratic country who dropped atomic bombs”.

Sackur then charged him as being ‘Anti-Semitic’ and the instant response was “Anti-semitism is something created by the Jews themselves”. He then related to the earlier issue of democracy. “There are journalists who were arrested for talking about and against the Holocaust. Where is the ‘Freedom of Press’ then?”. He also explained on the quote from his speech “The Jews rule the world by proxy”, with “The United States allowing the Israelis to do anything they want”.

The interview was ended when he was asked, whether he will continue to attack the Leadership and Government and whether “It’s time for you to be quiet”. His response, with the typical smirk, “Why should I be quiet, when they are doing something wrong to my country?”.

The wide ranging 30-minute program, was a really good interview, indeed.

*Updated on 6.20pm

The interview can now be viewed on the BBC.com Hardtalk page.

*Updated on 12.10am Tuesday, 22 April 2008

Bernama.com report on the program:

April 22, 2008 00:02 AM

Dr Mahathir: I’m Not Anti-Western But Will Point Out Their Wrongdoings

KUALA LUMPUR, April 21 (Bernama) — Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that he is not anti-Western but will continue to speak up about their wrongdoings against other people.

“I am not anti-western, I’m against the bad things done by the western countries,” he said.

He said the Westerners, especially the British, had given the Malays many negative labels like lazy and incompetent, and expected them to like it.

He stressed that therefore, the Western people should also be ready to hear what others think of them.

“The British used to call us lazy Malays, incompetent Malays, untrustworthy Malays. We couldn’t say a thing about you, so when I was in a position to say what I think about you, and then said it, you don’t like it. When you say it to us, you expect us to like it, we don’t like it but we don’t have a way for our voice to be heard,” he said.

Dr Mahathir said this during an interview in “Hard Talk” aired by BBC in London, Monday.

He admitted saying that Anglo-Saxon Europeans were proponents of war, slavery and the holocaust.

“Which is true… I am stating a fact. This is their character and I will continue to say so,” he said.

On democracy, Dr Mahathir defended the brand of the system being practised in Malaysia.

“It is not necessary that the system will work for everybody, but if they have a bad leader, even a democratic system will fail.

“You must remember that it is a democratic country that dropped the atomic bombs killing more than 200,000 people,” he said.

He said if one were to look at the history of the West, they would find that the Westerners normally came up with all kinds of ideologies.

“They used it for some time and then they found it to be defective. They dump it and they start on another. One day, they are going to forget about democracy because in some countries, democracy usually ends up with anarchy, and there is practically no government,” he said.

Dr Mahathir said democracy was not a system that could fit everybody.

“You must have a certain understanding of the limitation of democracy in order for it to work,” he said.

Dr Mahathir was also asked to comment on the recent general election result where the ruling party lost five wealthy states to the opposition coalition allegedly due to the racial division pursued by him during his tenure.

“I know that was a wishful thinking on the part of foreign critics but the fact is that in this election result, it is due to the dissatisfaction on the part of the ruling party’s supporters with the present decisions,” he said.

He also defended the implementation of the New Economic Policy which was said to be the cause of the loss, saying that it was a necessary step to correct the imbalances that existed since the British days.

On questions regarding Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Dr Mahathir said if Anwar were to become the new Prime Minister, he was welcomed to conduct a full and thorough inquiry on his (Dr Mahathir’s) so-called misdeeds.

“Well, he is welcomed to do so, but I hope that he finds people who are neutral, who are impartial, probably foreigners because I don’t trust people they are putting in charge of the people they don’t like,” he said.

Dr Mahathir was also asked whether he regretted what he did to Anwar.

“Why should I regret, he was arrested under the laws of the country, he was tried and sentenced by the court, if he was not wrong, I don’t think no matter what you think about the our judiciary, I don’t think he would have been sentenced to prison,” he said.

On the judicial system in Malaysia, Dr Mahathir vehemently denied that he appointed judges in the Supreme Court and stressed that he always had faith in the system.

“I didn’t appoint the judges, the judges were recommended by the chief justice, and my duty is to check whether they had any record or not, and after that it was presented to the King who then appoint the judges,” he explained.

He also commented the move by Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to apologise and offering monetary compensation to judges removed during his time as “a political move”.

“It’s a political move, something a man who is very unpopular now wanting to show that he has to do something right,” he said.

Dr Mahathir also accused Abdullah of making use of the system in the worst possible way.

“Nobody can say anything against him, he has newspapers who duly report about him and how great he is, and he was misled by his own supporters into believing that he would win big in the recent election,” he said.

Asked why he choose Abdullah as his predecessor, Dr Mahathir said, “These people, they are very smart in hiding their true character, he was known as Mr Clean and I thought I should appoint a clean person to succeed me… although he was not the one with the highest votes (as vice president) in the party but I thought that he was older and I appointed him thinking that he is not going to do anything very wrong, but this man gives greater priority to his family rather than to the country.”

Dr Mahathir admitted openly in the talkshow that it was “a fundamental

lack of judgment on his part” to appoint Abdullah as the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

He was also asked why he could not keep quiet after he retired.

“Why should I, they are doing something very bad to my country and I should not let it happen.

“I would be irresponsible if I do that,” he added.

– BERNAMA

Tun Dr. Mahathir speaking to students in Manchester

Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad is in Manchester, United Kingdom today. He will be speaking to Malaysian students, organized by UMNO Club Manchester.

The hall was filled to the brim with over 200 students, from all over the United Kingdom to hear him in person, especially after making scathing remarks asking PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to accept accountability for BN’s humiliating defeat in 5 + 1 states and reduced majority in the remaining states and resign, on 9 March 2008. It was the day after Malaysia concluded its 12^th General Elections.

Yesterday, he was invited to appear on BBC Hardtalk, hosted by Stephen Sackur. The program will be made available in BBC World (Astro Ch. 512) on Monday, 21 April 2008 at 4.30pm (Malaysian time).

More information about Tun Dr. Mahathir’s speech in Manchester later. RTM and TV3 were said to want to interview him, after this event. It is expected that he will make a remark on PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah Ahmad Badawi’s decision to give ejected Lord President Tun Mohamed Salleh Abas and five Supreme Court Judges ex-gratia payment for their untimely dismissal in August 1988.

*Updated on Sunday, 20 April 2008 1.30am

Tun Dr. Mahathir said, he is having second thoughts about Dato’ Seri Mohd. Najib Tun Razak because the latter is ‘bowing’ down to PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah and not seen as “having the guts to stand against”, even on issues like the payment of ex-gratia to Tun Salleh and the five dismissed Judges.

The ex-gratia payment demostrated that the Government has no stand and do not abide by their own convention, but is able to be influenced by people representing minority interests, such as the Bar Council. Hence the ability do “Flip-Flop” decisions such as the abrupt cancellation of the Scenic Bridge project, the reinstatement of the double tracking railroad system (which was canceled, two weeks after asuming Premiership in 2003), the dismissal of the ‘Hindraf 31′ originally charged for attempted murder on a Policeman on duty and how the handling of the appointment of Menteri Besar of Terengganu.

He also explained that it was not him who sacked Tun Salleh and it was done in accordance with the law and provisions of the Constitution.

When asked on the sacking of Anwar Ibrahim from Government and UMNO in September 1998, he admitted it wasn’t personal and the victims who have been sodomised by Anwar admitted and complained personally to him.

Someone asked about the Constitutional provisions to limit the power of the Prime Minister, he elaborated the necessity of the concept on “Presidential Advisers” and give example that PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah is now getting advice and over reliance on information and decision making process from his immediate family.

When answering about him being labelled as “Ultra Malay” in 1969, especially post ‘13 May 1969 racial riots’, he explained that what he did was ultimately for Malaysia. He was raised issues which were very pertinent about the Malays then, who were gravely underdeveloped. There was a serious need to develop the Malays, especially economically and a balance between the different ethnic groups was very necessary, as harmony was an important ingredient for the nation to move forward.

He also talked about blogging as the new age media and how blogging should be handled by the Government with ‘engagement’ and not ‘alienation’ and denial. Blogs, he explained is how the rakyat voice the feelings and opinion.

*Updated Monday, 21 April 2008 730am

The Star report on this event in Manchester:

Monday April 21, 2008

Dr M: Najib should not be PM

By CHOI TUCK WO

MANCHESTER: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he had second thoughts about Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak becoming Prime Minister as Najib had failed to speak up about the real reasons behind Barisan Nasional’s losses in the general election.

The former prime minister claimed that Najib was not “brave enough” to directly say anything that was not liked by his boss.

“We see that he is a penakut (coward). He is always saying, ‘yes sir, yes sir, saya sokong, saya sokong (I support, I support).”

He said, when the prime minister blamed Barisan’s losses on sabotage, Najib merely agreed to it.

Dr Mahathir cited another instance when Najib gave his full support for Malaysia to build a bridge to Singapore despite the republic’s disagreement. But Najib suddenly changed his mind when Abdullah decided against the project, he added.

“I believe he should rightly explain the real reasons for Barisan’s losses in the election,” he said when asked on the reason for his change of mind about Najib after giving a talk on “Malay, Malaysian and Malaysia: Challenges Ahead” at the University of Manchester on Saturday.

Dr Mahathir had earlier this month withdrawn his support for Najib to be prime minister but did not give his reason for doing so.

“I’m not so confident (about him taking over as prime minister). Even so, it all depends on Umno to appoint the person to be prime minister.

“Najib will have to face competition from others such as (Tan Sri) Muhyiddin Yassin, (Datuk Seri Dr) Rais Yatim, you never know.”

He, however, said if Abdullah were to step down now, it would pave the way for a smooth transition as Najib would succeed him in accordance with Umno tradition.

Dr Mahathir also felt that Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would not be the sole candidate for Prime Minister if Pakatan Rakyat were to win in the next general election.

He believed there were other candidates as well, saying PAS was eyeing the post while (DAP’s Lim) Guan Eng could be premier too.

“Anwar thinks he will be prime minister. It’s not that they loved him but it’s a marriage of convenience,” he added.

On the plan to set up a judicial appointments commission and the goodwill ex-gratia payments to six senior judges, Dr Mahathir claimed it was a political move to boost the government’s popularity.

He said there was no reason for the compensation because everything was done in accordance with the law.

“If they can show me the removal of (former Lord President) Tun Salleh Abas was against procedures prescribed by the law, please let me know,” he said.

Tun Dr. Mahathir’s Facebook group under constant attack?

Efforts have been to undermine the acceptance and popularity of Statesman and former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad amongst Malaysians, especially the affluent, more educated and professional but liberally-bent younger generation.

Recently, a high popular social-networking online community bulletin board Facebook, which initially started in 2004, was caught on by the IT savvy and more affluent professionals in Malaysia. It saw a rapid expansion, membership and utility and many networked amongst their friends and associates, which automatically expound their web of networking at an exponential rate and proportions.

One of the politician page created by Malaysian is dedicated to Statesman and former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. It instantly became very popular that in a very short period, 10,042 people joined this group and messages and photos were posted and updated, almost daily.

This particular Facebook group has been ranked 15^th most popular politicians, amongst the politician page. The No. 1 is Barak Obama and Tun Dr. Mahathir’s Facebook group is actually ahead compared to Presidents George W. Bush and Nicolas Sarkozy.

However, this popularity did not go unnoticed and naturally, gained the comfort of everyone. On 11 April 2008, the group was cancelled and surprised many. It was reinstated in the same day. Again, this morning at 4.00am, it was re-cancelled, despite its popularity, amongst Malaysians. At 9.00am, efforts were made to start the Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad Facebook group, for the third time. As of press time, it already garnered 2,199 members.

Who and why this Facebook group has been cancelled and delisted is still a mystery. One of the members cited that “Tun Dr. Mahathir has been referred as a “Tyrant” to the moderators, who then agreed to cancel the Facebook group, twice”. This is actually consistent with efforts in the mainstream media and Malaysian politics to gravely undermine the strong popularity and increasing influence of the 83 year old former UMNO President and Barisan Nasional Chairman, amidst the growing dissatisfaction and unhappiness of the current political scene under PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Dato’ Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

In the recently concluded 12^th General Elections, the results showed the more younger, affluent and professional voters came out and clearly send out a strong message on how the country is being poorly managed.

The ’RM 13 million question’ is, will efforts to undermine exchange of thoughts and communications, thus constant alienation, especially the more affluent, professional and younger generation IT savvy Malaysians be the right solution to address the ever growing dispopularity of the Leadership and Government?

Tun Dr. Mahathir: Betulkan balik parti dalam “Zaman Pembohongan” ini!

Mantan Presiden UMNO dan Perdana Menteri Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad petang ini berkata orang Melayu perlu tidak takut dan berani bangkit untuk bertindak, terutama apabila keujudan mereka telah diancam. Ini kerana UMNO telah dikalahkan di 5 + 1 negeri dalam satu pilihanraya sahaja.

Beliau menjelaskan bahawa sekarang ialah ‘Zaman Pembohongan’ kerana maklumat yang diputar belitkan (spin) melalui media. Orang disekeliling PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah tidak memberikan beliau maklumat yang tepat (i.e.berbohong) sehingga yakin BN begitu kuat untuk menang besar dan membuat keputusan untuk pilihanraya 18 bulan pra-matang. Kepimpinan tidak sedar perasaan sebenar rakyat dan akar umbi kerana maklumat sebenar di’selindung’(insulate), oleh orang tertentu. PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah dikelilingi oleh “Kaki bodek (ampu)” dan “Kalau kita percaya orang macam ini, satu hari kita akan tenggelam”.

Ujar beliau menjelaskan dakwaan keatas PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah itu, “Terpengaruh dengan pembohongan dan mengambil tindakan yang salah!”. Inilah hasil keputusan BN dalam Pilihanraya Umum ke XII pada 8 Mac 2008.

Beliau mengulas desakan UMNO Kedah dan Pulau Pinang menyuarakan hasrat mereka agar PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah berundur. Ahli dan akar umbi UMNO perlu berani menyuarakan perasaan sebenar mereka, termasuk kepada pemimpin diperingkat Bahagian dan mengingatkan agar “Tidak berharap kepada orang lain untuk membuat pembaharuan sewajarnya”. Ini dihuraikan dengan sejarah yang menunjukan bahawa orang Melayu bangkit dan memperjuangkan hak mereka yang cuba dirampas British semasa Malayan Union hendak dilaksanakan pada 1946. “Sudah tiba masanya orang Melayu bangkit kembali untuk mengembalikan hak mereka”, ujar Negarawan 83 tahun itu.

Apa yang dilaporkan hari ini oleh media perdana telah di’putar belit’kan (spin) . Contoh yang diberikan ialah apa yang sebenarnya berlaku dalam pertemuan PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah dengan UMNO Johor petang semalam.

Beliau juga mengulas bahawa “Rakyat sedang melalui proses pembohongan” dan mengambil contoh keputusan UMNO Kedah, Pulau Pinang dan Johor yang dilaporkan dalam media sebagai contoh. UMNO sedang melakukan proses transformasi dan pembaikan dan pembohongan tidak akan membawa kepada hasil yang produktif.

Tambah beliau “Hari ini, Pembangkang seperti Anwar Ibrahim dan DAP merasa selesa dengan Kepimpinan PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah kerana mereka yakin, rakyat akan makin meluat kepada BN dan UMNO!” dan ini akan membawa keputusan yang akan menghancurkan parti itu.

Turut hadir dimajlis ini ialah Mantan Naib Presiden UMNO dan Pengerusi Perhubungan UMNO Kedah Tan Sri Sanusi Junid. Beliau bercerita mengenai bagaimana dunia menganggap Tun Dr. Mahathir sebagai sumber inspirasi, termasuk Raja Al Malik Abdullah dari Saudi dan Zu Rhong Ji dari China. Keputusan PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah mengangkat orang yang tidak bertanding menjadi Menteri Kebinet dipersoalkan.

Sanusi menjelaskan bahwa PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah menyalahkan Tun Dr. Mahathir kerana Operasi Lalang pada Oktober 1987 dan ketirisan Kehakiman, tetapi tidak menjelaskan sebab yang sebenar. Satu usaha untuk mengumpulkan sejumlah besar orang Melayu dikumpulkan diKuala Lumpur dan memberi sokongan penuh kepada Kerajaan, terutama apabila Kehakiman membuat keputusan soal kerakyatan untuk 50 orang asing yang diperkudakan pemimpin DAP dan penghakiman akan menimbulkan kemarahan orang ramai.

Pada masa yang sama, ujud satu rancangan untuk membuat kekecohan oleh pihak tertentu dan berkepentingan menjadikan keadaan yang bleh mengugat keselamatan dalam negara. Mantan Pesuruhjaya Polis Dato’ J.J. Raj menjelaskan dalam bukunya bahawa Polis membuat keputusan penuh untuk menangkap kesemua 106 pemimpin politik dibawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri kerana kemungkinan berlaku huru hara dalam negara.

*Perkembangan dikemaskinikan pada 7.00pm

Semasa sessi soal jawab, Mantan Presiden UMNO itu menjelaskan bahawa tindakan yang akan diambil kepada ahli UMNO yang mengundi Pembangkang adalah tidak demokratik, kerana “Itu hak ahli UMNO”. Beliau menambah bahawa keyakinan perlu dikembalikan agar pemulihan disegerakan, bukan sahaja UMNO, tetapi juga MCA, MIC dan Gerakan.

Dalam sidang media, Tun Dr. Mahathir menegaskan bahawa ahli UMNO “Perlu bertindak sekarang dan tidak perlu lagi bersandiwara”. Beliau juga menegaskan bahawa calon yang sesuai untuk menerajui Kepimpinan UMNO sekarang bukanlah wajar ditentukan oleh beliau, tetapi ahli UMNO.

Untuk soalan peralihan kuasa Kepimpinan, beliau menjelaskan bahawa mengikut tradisi UMNO, seorang Timbalan Presiden akan mengambil alih Kepimpinan dan tetapi buat masa sekarang, ianya terletak kepada ahli UMNO untuk menentukan siapa yang wajar memimpin. Isu sistem kuota dijawab apabila dibangkitkan.

Tun Dr. Mahathir menjelaskan bahawa pada asalnya, sistem kuota diperkenalkan bagi membendung pemimpin mengunakan politik-wang untuk membeli pencalonan, sebagaimana berlaku dalam kes Anwar Ibrahim mencabar Ghaffar Baba pada pemilihan 1993. “Sekarang, PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah mengunakan sistem kuota untuk ‘menekan’ sebarang persaingan”.

Bagi soalan laporan media mengenai keputusan pertemuan PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah dan UMNO Johor berbeza dengan perbincangan tertutup, beliau mengulas sinis, “Tun Musa kata sekarang ada kebebasan media”.

Beliau juga menjelaskan bahawa peralihan perlu dilakukan sekarang kerana proses pemulihan parti mengambil masa yang lama. Sekiranya berlaku pertandingan, mungkin akan berlaku perpecahan parti kerana pertandingan itu sendiri akan mengundang emosi dan kadang kala melampaui batas.

Tun Dr. Mahathir mengaku sebahagian dari punca rakyat hilang keyakinan kepada BN dan menyaksikan hasil yang memberanjatkan semasa PRU 12 dan komen beliau ialah “Ya, benar. Kenapa saya nak sokong Kepimpinan yang tidak baik?”.

Apabila diminta mengulas kenyataan Anwar Ibrahim bahawa Pembangkang tidak akan mencadangkan ‘undi tidak percaya kepada PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah’, Tun Dr. Mahathir menjelaskan bahawa Pembangkang berharap dengan PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah terus menerajui Kepimpinan, ianya akan membawa kepada kepastian UMNO hancur, kerana rakyat meluat dan menolak parti itu. Oleh itu, “Lagi lama PM ‘Flip-Flop’ Abdullah berkuasa, makin teruk UMNO!”.

*Perkembangan dikemaskinikan Ahad 13 April 2008 2.30am

Laporan Bernama.com:

12 April, 2008 23:20 PM

Peralihan Kuasa Kepimpinan Umno Mesti Dilakukan Sekarang, Kata Tun Mahathir KAJANG, 12 April (Bernama) — Peralihan pucuk kepimpinan Umno harus dilakukan sekarang bagi memastikan Umno dapat dipulihkan dan memastikan Barisan Nasional (BN) memenangi semula negeri-negeri yang ditawan oleh pembangkang, kata Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Bekas Perdana Menteri berkata kerja untuk memulihkan parti akan mengambil masa yang panjang dan “kita akan ada pilihan raya tidak lebih dari lima tahun.” “Lima tahun bukan satu masa yang panjang. Jadi jika tak diadakan peralihan sekarang, kita mungkin tidak cukup masa untuk tarik balik orang parti kita yang telah undi parti lawan, terutama jika parti lawan cekap, (dan) mereka membuat pemerintahan yang cukup baik di Kedah, Penang dan juga Selangor, masa itu kita tidak dapat balik dah, sebab itu kita perlu bertindak sekarang,” katanya. Beliau berkata demikian kepada pemberita selepas berucap pada forum “Krisis Kepimpinan Melayu Pasca Pilihan Raya Umum Ke-12, Di mana Silapnya” di sini hari ini. Beliau mengulas kenyataan Naib Presiden Umno Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin bahawa Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi akan berbincang mengenai pelan peralihan kuasa dengan Timbalannya Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. Dr Mahathir berkata jika benar peralihan kuasa itu akan diadakan, itulah cara yang terbaik dan pertukaran antara Perdana Menteri dengan timbalannya sepatutnya berjalan dengan licin. “Kebanyakan daripada ahli sudah hendak kepada peralihan, beliau (Abdullah) mesti respons kepada desakan ini dan buat dengan cara baik. Kalau tidak nanti, nak ada mesyuarat untuk pinda perlembagaan, lepas tu undi tidak percaya… semua ini bagi imej beliau rosak aje,” kata Dr Mahathir. Dr Mahathir berkata beliau tidak ada kena mengena dengan proses peralihan kuasa itu. “Tak ada kena mengena dengan saya. Saya tidak terlibat dalam perkara ini. Beliau (Abdullah) perlu melakukan apa yang perlu untuk parti. Jelas bahawa daripada menyalahkan saya atau menyalahkan orang lain, beliau perlu bertanggungjawab kerana perkara ini berlaku semasa tempoh beliau memegang jawatan,” katanya. Ditanya mengenai calon yang perlu diketengahkan sebagai pengganti Perdana Menteri, Dr Mahathir berkata tradisi parti perlu diikuti sekiranya Abdullah meletak jawatan. “Parti punya tradisi berkata bahawa apabila ketua letak jawatan ataupun undur maka timbalan akan ambil alih,” katanya. Kepada soalan sama ada beliau menyokong Najib sebagai pengganti, Dr Mahathir berkata: “Ini bukan soal saya menyokong Najib atau tidak, ini soal tradisi.” Dr Mahathir berkata untuk kebaikan, Abdullah mesti meletak jawatan sekarang. “Tetapi jika beliau menunggu sehingga Perhimpunan Agung Umno, kita tidak tahu apa yang orang ini (perwakilan) akan katakan.” – BERNAMA

*Perkembangan dikemaskinikan Ahad 13 April 2008 10.00pagi:

Laporan NST:

2008/04/13

Anwar as PM? Only if the Israelis vote him

KAJANG: Only the Israelites will vote Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as prime minister, said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“Well, Haaretz (Israeli newspaper) thinks he is going to be the prime minister. It is the only paper in the world which thinks he is going to be the prime minister… he is the prime minister that the Israelis will vote for,” he said at a Malay leadership forum here yesterday.

Dr Mahathir said this in response to a question whether Anwar had any credibility to be elected prime minister.

Responding to a foreign journalist who said that Anwar received a big majority in parliament in the recent elections, Dr Mahathir said: “He (Anwar) didn’t get this huge majority that you mention.

“(It is not) because people like him. (It) is just because Umno lost or Barisan (Nasional) lost. (The voters) showed their protest by voting for the opposition. It is not because he is popular.”

He said that in 1999, with the black eye and all that, Anwar won only five seats.

“You know he had to suffer a black eye to get five seats. And in 2004, he had one seat. See? He is not popular.” — Bernama