Dr M: Better to choose gov't through street demos?

Responding to the series of rallies organised by Pakatan Rakyat to protest against the general election results, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad suggests that the government be chosen through street demonstrations, instead of elections.

"Perhaps it would be better if governments are chosen through street demonstrations. It will probably be less fraudulent," Mahathir wrote - in his usual sarcastic manner - in his blog Chedet.

He warned that bringing down the government through street rallies would lead to continuous turmoil in the country, for the losers would use the same approach against the new government.

"There will be no growth. Poverty will spread. The country may have to beg for aid or borrow. In the end, it loses its independence.

"But of course, this is a small price to pay for the right to bring down governments through democratic street demonstrations," Mahathir said, clearly referring to the opposition's claim to its democratic right to hold demonstrations.

Mahathir elaborated that setting up a new government after the downfall of the old government as a result of street demonstrations would be difficult.

"There will always be people who will not agree with the new government, no matter if the government is democratically elected or not.

'Losers will always accuse winners of cheating'

"The losers in the bid for power will always accuse the winners of cheating and frauds of all kinds. They will demand for new elections, or a re-count or whatever."

Should their demand not met, he said, they would take to the streets in continuous and even violent demonstrations, supplemented with strikes and sundry disorders.

"They know that if the demonstrations are big enough, the police cannot act against them. If the police try, they will resist and become violent. If the police react with violence then their foreign backers will accuse the police of brutality."

The police would then become disinclined to carry out their duties, and criminals would take advantage and create an insecure situation, Mahathir argued.

"If, on the other hand, new elections are held and the former losers win, the new losers will accuse the winners of cheating, of fraud, etc.

"They will hold street demonstrations and strikes and do everything possible to bring down the government. And so it would go on," he added.