Hate speech under Mahathir's pseudo rule of law

Hindraf leader P Uthayakumar (photo) also censured Mahathir over the “orang asing” remark, saying the prime minister appeared to be giving the green light to others to make similar statements.

Uthayakumar pointed out that despite Mahathir claiming the congress was not racist, Tamil dailies had reported that among the resolutions presented were the closure of vernacular schools and that top government positions be reserved for Malays.

“But the said speaker (who raised this issues) would not be jailed under the Sedition Act as Umno jailed me... nor will Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador arrest anyone under Section 504 of the Penal Code and the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia (MCMC) Act for hate speech under Mahathir's pseudo rule of law,” he added in a statement.

Dr M's lawyer: I'll sue Rosmah's aide when 'boss' sues WSJ

Responding to Rizal Mansor's challenge to sue him for defamation, Dr Mahathir Mohamad's lawyer said he will do so exactly a week after Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak hauls the Wall Street Journal to court.

Mohd Hanif Khathri Abdullah also told the aide to the prime minister's wife Rosmah Mansor that there is a struggle which is far greater than him.

“This is to defeat Najib, Rizal's 'boss'. Rizal is not a relevant factor in the mission to save Malaysia.

“However, to satiate Rizal's excitement over his desire to be sued, I can assure him that I have the mandate to sue Rizal on the Tuesday, following the Tuesday when it is confirmed that Najib has filed a defamation suit against the WSJ,” he said.

The lawyer then referred to a report in The Star's Malay online portal Mstar dated July 5 last year, which quoted a “source close to the prime minister” claiming that Najib would file a suit against WSJ the following Tuesday via his lawyer in Kuala Lumpur.

Verbal tussle

This is over the WSJ's report on the RM2.6 billion in the prime minister's personal bank accounts, which was later described as a donation from a member of the Saudi royal household.

Mahathir has repeatedly accused Najib of siphoning funds from 1MDB, which the prime minister has denied and described as an attempt to topple him from power.

Najib has also accused certain foreign media organisations such as WSJ and Sarawak Report of being part of this campaign.

Attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali has cleared the prime minister of any wrongdoing in the matter.

Haniff and Rizal became embroiled in a verbal tussle when the latter accused Mahathir of belittling Prophet Muhammad during the DAP national convention over the weekend.

He had claimed that the former premier did this in an attempt to outshine DAP.

However, Haniff denied this, and accused Rizal of slander, prompting Rosmah's aide to challenge the lawyer to sue him for defamation.

Dr M reacts to royal snub

Dr Mahathir Mohamad has responded to the cancellation of his invitation to the installation of the new Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara on Dec 13.

In a blog post, the former premier said he received an invitation last month, and accepted it because he believed it was a national event which is apolitical.

"It turns out that a national event is part of a political party (event),” he added.

Without mincing words, Mahathir also suggested that the cancellation could be related to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"I apologise for making the wrong assumption (that the palace is above politics). I will note now that Istana Negara belongs to Najib and BN," he said.

Yesterday, an aide to the former premier confirmed that a letter was hand-delivered to the Perdana Foundation office in Putrajaya informing Mahathir of the cancellation.

The letter, dated Dec 5, mentioned that no seat would be provided at the event for Mahathir and that the former premier was being informed of this beforehand to spare him any embarrassment if he attended.

The letter bore the signature of the keeper of the ruler's seal Syed Danial Syed Ahmad.

Kelantan's Sultan Muhammad V will succeed Kedah's Sultan Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah effective Dec 13 and be installed as the 15th Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Perak's Sultan Nazrin Muizzudin Shah was appointed the Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

What if Iskandar region seeks independence, asks Dr M

News reports suggesting that new homes for millions of people currently being build in Iskandar Malaysia region has former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad wondering who would eventually stay in them.

In his latest blog post, Mahathir pointed out that a Bloomberg report had claimed that there were 60 projects in the region involving the construction of up to half million homes.

Conservatively, Mahathir estimated that this amount of homes would house 1.5 million people.

“Who will be staying in these sky scrappers? Does it make sense for the 1.5 million Johoreans – Malay, Chinese and Indians – move into these luxury dwellings? It does not.

“But having 1.5 million foreigners stay near Johor Bahru does make sense. Apparently, they are supposed to stay for three months during the winter. But was there an agreement on this?

“Can you imagine 700,000 people flying into Johor for three months and the same 700,000 leave after that, leaving the Iskandar region empty for nine months.

“Now imagine 1.5 million people emptying the city, apartments, shops and factories for nine months. Johor Bahru will be quiet. Does that make sense?” wrote Mahathir.

MB rubbishes Dr M's claims

Recently, Mahathir had told a ceramah in Krubung, Malacca that 700,000 people from China will be given Malaysia identity cards that would allow them to vote in the next general election.

He alleged that this was part of the deal sought by Putrajaya during the highly publicised state visit to China. Mahathir claimed that these 700,000 people would be housed in Forest City, which is part of the Iskandar Malaysia region.

According to the same Bloomberg report, the developers of Forest City are actively wooing Chinese investors. The report also claimed that AirAsia added a Johor Bahru-Guangzhou route in April to accommodate visiting Chinese investors.

Following this, Johor Menteri Besar Mohamed Khaled Nordin rubbished Mahathir's allegations on grounds that the Forest City project would be rolled out in 30 years.

While he agreed that there might be 700,000 foreigners residing in Johor 30 years later, it was impossible for all of them to be from China.

Khaled claimed that Forest City was being marketed the world over, including Australia and the Middle East, and not just China alone.

'Merdeka for Iskandar'

Meanwhile, continuing with his hypothetical scenario for Johor, Mahathir asked if these newcomers had decided to stay long term, would the Johor menteri besar be able to make them leave?

“If you can't chase them out, what is their status? What happens if they want to be permanent residents? What if they want to be citizens? What if they are quietly being given Malaysian identity cards before the next election?

“To Khaled, I say congratulations. You will have 1.5 million foreigners surrounding you. Apparently they won't be made citizens, but they will be your neighbours,” said Mahathir.

However, having that many new neighbours may come with certain dangers, he warned.

“With 1.5 million foreigners in Johor, you will have a problem. See what happened to Singapore. Just because the composition of its population was different from Malaysia, we have to remove Singapore from Malaysia.

“When Johor Bahru is surrounded by 1.5 million foreigners, what if we (have to) merdekakan (grant independence) to the Iskandar region? God forbid,” wrote Mahathir.

Now, Mahathir accuses Putrajaya of its own 'Project IC'

Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who during his tenure as prime minister was accused of engineering 'Project IC', has now accused the current government of implementing a citizenship-for-votes scheme.

He made the allegation when commenting on how democratic elections can be abused to install dictators or kleptocrats.

"Foreigners can be used to vote for the party in power. For example, if there are many foreigners in the country, for whatever reason, they can be given citizenship and registered as voters.

"Foreigners with passports of other countries have been found possessing Malaysian identification cards," Mahathir said in a blog posting today.

During Mahathir's tenure, he was accused of arbitrarily granting citizenship to Muslim foreigners in Sabah, in exchange for their votes, thereby altering the demography of the state in the process.

This was referred to as ''Project IC' and prompted a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) in 2012, after decades of demands by local Sabahans.

The inquiry concluded that 'Project IC' "probably" existed, but blamed it on rogue elements and criminal syndicates.

During the RCI hearing, several of those implicated were officials with the National Security Council (NSC), including two National Registration Department heads who were seconded from the council, which was chaired by the prime minister.

The presence of foreigners in the electoral roll had even prompted the Kota Kinabalu High Court to declare the election results in Likas as null and void in the 1999 state election.

Following the decision, Mahathir's administration amended the federal constitution to disallow the courts from reviewing the electoral roll.

Waytha wonders if Mahathir can ever redeem himself

The question that arises is whether Mahathir can be trusted to lead the “Save Malaysia” campaign.

KUALA LUMPUR: Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has of late been portrayed as “the saviour” in the wake of a campaign to “Save Malaysia” from corrupt leaders.

However, the question that arises is whether Mahathir can be trusted to lead the “Save Malaysia” campaign.

He has promised institutional changes, noted Hindraf Makkal Sakthi Chairman P. Waythamoorthy in a statement.

The Hindraf chief, who was briefly in the Cabinet after GE13, charged that Mahathir suddenly seems enlightened. “He sees massive powers at the disposal of the Prime Minister of Malaysia.”

“He sees the need to curb those powers.”

Waytha wants to know what institutional changes Mahathir has in mind. The former Prime Minister has not specified what he intends to change and the reasons behind it other than vague statements raising hope, he pointed out.

Politics was more than what the eyes can see and the mind can perceive, he cautioned. Hence, there was debate on whether one should support Mahathir “blindly” in removing a dictator and replacing him perhaps with another dictator. “Politics is a strange and dangerous game,” warned Waytha.

For example, he claimed that Mahathir tried to entice Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi with the Prime Minister’s post if he joined him (Mahathir) in getting rid of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

“This was just a week before the recent twin parliamentary by-elections in Perak and Selangor,” alleged Waytha. “Mahathir promised to return to Umno and support the party if Zahid joined him to oust Najib.”

Hindraf was taking the position that Mahathir had only himself to blame for the mess the country was in today.

Hindraf has also taken the view that Mahathir has to apologize to the people for his perceived failures.

It was taking the cue from an open apology by Mahathir for pushing through a law, two decades ago, that removed the Agong as the final approving authority before any Bill passed by Parliament becomes law.

Waytha argued there were many other “admissions” that Mahathir has to make.

The former Prime Minister was a “dictator” during his 22 years in office, charged Waytha. “He imprisoned his critics and opponents.”
The Hindraf chief went on to “list down a few of his (Mahathir’s) past mistakes which he has to own up”.

For starters, he alleged Mahathir squandered over RM100 billion of public money as a result of financial scandals “during his 22 years through cronyism and nepotism”.

Elsewhere, he pointed at interference by Mahathir in the judiciary including sackings, chipping away at the doctrine of separation of powers, the Prime Minister’s Department emerging as a hyper ministry, and as much power as possible being amassed in the person of the Prime Minister.

Mahathir, continued Waytha, virtually turned the civil service into an all Malay affair. “The civil service no longer reflected the demography of the nation.”

Dr M expected to attend ‘TangkapMO1' rally

Dr Mahathir Mohamad is expected to make an appearance at the ‘TangkapMO1' rally at Dataran Merdeka tomorrow, according to former Umno man Khairuddin Abu Hassan.

"InsyaAllah (God willing), Tun Mahathir will attend the TangkapMO1 rally for a brief period in the afternoon.

"This decision was made to fulfil the request by the Persatuan Mahasiswa Melayu Malaysia, which insisted on Mahathir's presence at the event tomorrow," he told Malaysiakini.

There had been much speculation as to whether Mahathir, who is Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's fiercest critic, would show up tomorrow.

Last August, the 91-year-old former premier, who was recently admitted for a chest infection, made a surprise appearance at the Bersih 4 gathering, which demanded Najib’s resignation.

Khairuddin added that he personally hoped all the people of Malaysia would attend en masse to give moral support to the rally tomorrow.

On the other hand, there has been no directive from the PAS leadership to its members to attend the 'TangkapMO1' rally.

PAS assistant secretary-general (1) Khairul Faizi Ahmad Kamil said he could not say whether the Islamic party has allowed its members to attend the rally.

"So far, there have been no instructions. I cannot respond to that question.

"We will just await further instructions from the secretary-general," he said at a press conference at the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.

Meanwhile, Amanah Youth said in a statement today that it would mobilise its members to attend the gathering tomorrow.

The other youth wings of Pakatan Harapan will also be doing the same, said Amanah Youth national deputy chief Shazni Munir Mohd Ithnin.

He said that they hoped the police, as an institution responsible for the peace and safety of the rakyat, would maintain the peace throughout the rally by preventing any provocation from any parties.

"At the same time, Amanah Youth hopes that the true reason behind this rally – to catch, investigate and deliver justice to Malaysian Official 1 – would be achieved by the rakyat," he said.

The organisers of the 'TangkapMO1' rally had released a FAQ (frequently asked questions today), with guidelines for the rally.

They advised people to gather at the meeting points, Sogo or Masjid Negara, at 2pm tomorrow.

At Masjid Negara, they will gather with political leaders while at Sogo, they will be gathering with NGO leaders.

"Don't ask where Malaysian Official 1 (MO1) will gather, that one we also don't know, maybe at Putrajaya," the organisers joked.
Once a healthy number of people have gathered, they will then march to Dataran Merdeka, while listening to speeches and watching performances from the youths.

Follow instructions

The organisers say the most important thing is to wait and follow the instructions of the rally commanders, who are students who will introduce themselves.

The clothing theme of the rally is black and white and people are advised to wear comfortable shoes.

Once at Dataran Merdeka, they will sing and shout their demands. There will also be a gimmick performance by the organisers' spokesperson Anis Syafiqah Mohd Yusof.

"There won't be any long-winded speeches," they said.

Responding to questions whether the rally will be safe, the organisers said: "We have 200 safety volunteers on standby. The one who is not safe right now is MO1.”

They added that if participants are arrested, they should not panic but contact them (organisers) and a lawyer will be provided.

They advised the people not to get too friendly with police officers if they are arrested, saying that they only need to provide their name, IC number and address. They also advised the people to use their right to remain silent.

Everyone should bring some water for drinking and also some salt if they want.

"There are no laws stopping the people from keeping salt in their bags," they said.

Salt is said to be able to relieve irritation and pain from tear gas chemicals.

If anyone falls sick, they can contact the safety officers as there is a medical squad on standby.

"To fight MO1, we have to prepare everything," the organisers said.

Previously, the organisers had confirmed that the gathering would go on as planned despite inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar saying that police will not allow the rally to be held in Dataran Merdeka as the organisers did not get permission from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

The US Department of Justice had claimed that US$731 million made its way into the accounts of MO1, an unnamed civil servant who is related to Najib's stepson Riza Aziz.

Riza and a businessman Jho Low, who is said to be close to the prime minister’s family, were named in the court filings.

Critics claimed that MO1 is none other than Najib himself.

However, Najib has denied allegations of misusing public funds, saying such accusations were part of a plot to topple him.

Attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali also cleared the prime minister of any wrongdoing.

Dr M vows new party will restore democracy, rule of law

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad vowed that his new political party will restore democracy and rule of law which has been denied and abused by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

The pro tem chairperson of Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) said this when he explained the need for a new party in his latest blog posting today.

Mahathir said he was surprised that people have been asking why Bersatu was formed.

He said the new party can revive the country's glory of the past.

Mahathir, who led the country for 22 years, said he had studied the fate of parties which won independence in other countries.

“Most of them have disappeared. They have lost to new parties formed after independence because invariably they forgot the purpose for which the parties were formed, and abused the power accorded to them for personal gains.

“Umno had lasted much longer. But under Najib it forgot completely the purpose for which it was formed. Najib has brought shame to this once admired country. The whole world looks down upon Najib for being the worst finance minister of Malaysia and for all kinds of wrongdoings perpetrated by him,” he said.

The former premier said that only a new party can revive the country's glory.

While the sophisticated and highly educated urban people may believe that racial politics is not in keeping with the times, Mahathir thinks the situation on the ground is different.

“For the rural people who are largely poor, race is not only important but they believe is essential for their well-being. Umno’s popularity is because it is a racial party.

“If the new party is to compete with Umno, it must give the people in the rural constituencies and the unsophisticated urban constituencies the kind of comfort associated with Umno’s kind of racism,” he said.

'Don't claim foreign intervention when you spend stolen money in the US'

By Malaysiakini


Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has blasted attempts to paint the US Department of Justice's (DOJ) move to seize assets acquired using stolen 1MDB funds as foreign intervention in the Malaysia, pointing out the action was due to the perpetrators breaking US law.

"Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his henchmen are thinking of ways to twist the facts to mislead Malaysians. This time, the DOJ is being accused of interfering in Malaysian affairs.

"Why would the US, that appreciates Najib's policies and the friendship between Najib and US president Barack Obama, want to oust Najib?

"They need him to sign the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. If they wanted to oust him, there are many ways, as can be seen in the Middle East.

"The truth is US laws was violated by Najib's family, friends and Malaysian Official 1," he said in a blog posting today.

Mahathir said money laundering is a crime in most countries and similar action is usually taken against those who spend money that was stolen or from drug trafficking in other countries.

"The billions spent by (Najib's step-son) Riza Shahriz Abdul Aziz and Jho Low went through US banks, and were used to acquire real estate and artworks in the US, pay gambling debts and for the film production of the obscene (movie) ‘Wolf of Wall Street’.

"The country (US) has the right to take legal action in accordance with its own law, just as Malaysia has the right to take legal action on any foreigner who commit crimes in Malaysia.

"The crimes of foreigners is not exempted from the laws of any country," he said.

Mahathir said after the DOJ's civil action to seize the assets, criminal action was likely to follow.

He added that while these crimes may be covered up in Malaysia, it would not happen overseas.

"If this revelation is influencing the people's opinion toward Najib's government, it is Najib's own fault.

"Why try to spend illegal money in the US?" he said.

Dr M: They'll revoke my passport if I criticise Najib abroad

SG BESAR POLLS Dr Mahathir Mohamad today claimed he has been warned by the immigration that his passport will be revoked if he criticises Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak abroad.

"I was warned that if I say something not in support of Najib, when I come back from overseas my passport will be revoked for three years," the former premier said in his speech in Sungai Besar today.

Mahathir also disputed that the Immigration Department has a right to take back his travel document.

"I didn't read this in the federal constitution, where this right came from I don't know."

Previously Immigration chief Sakib Kusmi had said the law empowered him to have discretion to bar those who insult the government from leaving the country.



Read more: https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/345648#ixzz4BoEeTXbG

Mahathir: Rulers a problem then, PM a problem now

Dr Mahathir Mohamad has defended his move to amend the Federal Constitution in 1983 to take away the rulers' power to block legislation passed by Parliament.

The former premier said the government then had perceived the rulers to be problematic, but now it appears the present government is the one which is problematic.

"At that time we thought the rulers would be a problem since the government is the government of the people," Mahathir told a press conference held at Kampung Baru Jerlun, Kuala Kangsar today.

He also criticised his successor for imitating the leadership style of Uganda's third president Idi Amin.

Mahathir was asked if he should be partly blamed for the National Security Council (NSC) Act since it was gazetted without the Yang di- Pertuan Agong's assent, thanks to the amendment to the constitution.

"We thought the sultan will be a problem but in fact the sultan is not a problem, it is the prime minister who has gone out of hand, and he is trying to rule the country...," he said.

Mahathir was at the campaign trail for Parti Amanah Negara's candidate Ahmad Termizi Ramli.

He was warmly greeted by some 500 people at a Chinese new village.

Meanwhile, Mahathir dismissed the criticism which linked the NSC Act to Internal Security Act (ISA), which was abolished in 2011.

"There is no similarity between ISA and NSC. ISA was allowed as the Agong can declare emergency.

"But this (NSC) was rejected by Agong but he (Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak) still continued with it," he said.

"Under ISA, those (who felt they) were wrongly detained can take the case to court, while this is not permitted under NSC.

"This is the law used by Najib (photo) to take away Agong's right while ISA did not take away Agong's right," he stressed.

On another matter, Mahathir said 1MDB and Najib, who is also the advisory board chairperson of the state-owned fund, took the fund which was supposed to be channelled to Aabar Investments PJS (Aabar).

"It is ridiculous to suggest they gave billions of dollars to a company, that they could not check first if this was the real company or some company created elsewhere.

"But I suspect this company to whom they paid the money was created by them, and they purposely paid to this false company so they can make use of the money," he said.

International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) and its subsidiary Aabar have submitted a Request for Arbitration to the London Court of International Arbitration over its US$6.5 billion claim against 1MDB and the Ministry of Finance Incorporated.

Mahathir pleads for an Amanah victory

Ex-premier woos Kuala Kangsar voters with another public appeal to kick out Najib.

KUALA KANGSAR: After spending the whole day campaigning in Sungai Besar, Selangor yesterday, the 90-year-old former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad hit the roads of Kuala Kangsar today, appealing again for a victory for the Amanah candidate.

At a forum on 1MDB and Najib Razak’s Donation, organised by the opposition Pakatan Harapan alliance, Dr Mahathir urged voters to back Dr Ahmad Termizi Ramli of Amanah.

“I appeal to all of you to support Termizi. He comes from a prominent family, and is a wise man. He is a matured and capable leader. (Though) he has a bit of white hair, but not as young as me,” he said, drawing laughter from about 300 people present.

He reiterated his campaign purpose of driving Najib Razak out of office as Umno president and prime minister.

“Give (Termizi) the victory, so that we can prove that Najib is not needed by the people,” he added.

Termizi, 61, is a nuclear physics professor and a sixth generation descendant of Perak’s Maharaja Lela who launched a rebellion against the British Resident JWW Birch in the 19th century.

Dr Mahathir also spoke to reporters about his meeting with PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang,

Mahathir said he had met Hadi to explain about Najib’s weaknesses which, he claimed, Hadi had also acknowledged.

“I explained to him about Najib’s doings in detail, about Najib and foreign powers, 1MDB and the money. All this is a waste of public funds. He said there is truth in it,” Dr Mahathir said.

However, now that PAS was on its own, after the breakup of Pakatan Rakyat, the previous opposition alliance, Hadi had come to favour Najib and the PAS’ struggle had become one to defend Najib, Dr Mahathir said.

He had earlier said that it would be impossible for PAS to defeat BN on its own, and the party’s latest strategy was to befriend Najib.

Dr Mahathir’s decision to openly campaign against Barisan Nasional in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar was criticised by Umno vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein yesterday. Hishammuddin said he did not understand why the former premier could make such a decision as he had been among the most respected leaders in BN.

Dr Mahathir was prime minister from 1981 to 2003 and headed Umno and the Barisan Nasional during that time.

Mahathir: Dump Najib and I may return to Umno

Return the original Umno and I'll consider it, he says after Ahmad Zahid's offer.

KUALA KANGSAR: Dr. Mahathir Mohamad will consider rejoining Umno – if Najib Razak is no longer head of the dominant political party.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir gave reporters his response when asked about an offer by Umno vice-president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi yesterday.

“Tell him to get rid of Najib first, then I’ll think about it. Return the original Umno and I’ll consider it,” he said.

Earlier this year, Dr Mahathir formally left Umno, for the second time under one of his successors, after heading the party and being prime minister for 22 years from 1981-2003.

He left Umno in 2008 in protest against the policies of his immediate successor, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, although he did not resign, but formally resigned on Feb 29 after a campaign to oust Najib Razak, who had taken over in 2008.

It was the third time in his life that he had left Umno. In 1969, he was expelled after circulating a poison-pen letter against first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra.

Yesterday, Dr Mahathir openly campaigned for the opposition Pakatan Harapan and Amanah party candidate in the Sungai Besar parliamentary by-election, and did so again here for the Amanah candidate in Kuala Kangsar.

Ahmad Zahid had expressed regret at Dr Mahathir’s appearance at an opposition campaign event and said Umno would be willing to accept him back “if he does not stab us in the back”. However, Zahid said he believes Mahathir will not ask to return to Umno for the time being.

Today, Dr Mahathir attended a Citizen’s Declaration forum organized by NGO Selamatkan Malaysia at Taman Chandan Puteri, together with Amanah candidate Ahmad Termizi Ramli and former Wanita Umno information head Hamdiah Osman.

Iron Lady talks about Mahathir the fun guy

Former minister Rafidah Aziz lets her hair down with comedian Harith Iskandar on his new talk show

PETALING JAYA: Showing off her lighter side on television last night, former cabinet minister Rafidah Aziz shed her Iron Lady image as she sat down with comedian Harith Iskander on his new talk show.

Aired on Astro Awani, Rafidah told Harith she enjoyed listening to sentimental music, and that despite being dubbed the Iron Lady, she was actually a “jelly inside”.

Listening to her sharp wit and funny side, it was easy to forget that the former Umno leader is 73 years old.

“I’ve seen it all,” she said, referring to her more than 50 years of being in politics.

Harith asked Rafidah to revisit the major episode in Umno history, when party president Dr Mahathir Mohamad announced his resignation live on television.

Rafidah recalled how her high heels broke as she knelt down in front of Mahathir, in trying to convince him to retract his resignation.

She said after some 40 minutes of talking to the former premier, when she got up, she realised her high heels had broken off, which then led her to being barefoot when she was interviewed on television by RTM later.

Speaking more on Mahathir, Harith asked if she had ever told him off if she wasn’t happy with something.

“If I’m not happy I give him the silent treatment,” she said, noting how a person can’t simply tell off an old man, out of respect.

But she said she knew Mahathir as “a fun person”, elaborating that, however, the fun person only came out sometimes.
She also related how she had once arm-wrestled with Mahathir.

“I arm-wrestled him and he lost,” she said, telling the audience and Harith, that they were initially having a men-versus-women argument about strength and she had told Mahathir she was once an arm-wrestling champion in school.
She said Mahathir didn’t believe her and that was how they ended up arm-wrestling.

Also on the show with Rafidah was actor and singer Sean Ghazi who dazzled the audience with his rendition of Tony Bennet’s The Way You Look Tonight.

Harith’s show, Obviously Harith Iskander, airs on Astro Awani every Saturday at 9.30pm.

Dr M: Charge me in court, and I'll ask if true Rosmah boarded private jet

K KANGSAR POLLS Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad today declared that he will answer questions that were previously posed by the police in court.

Mahathir, who is in Kuala Kangsar in support of Parti Amanah Negara’s (Amanah) candidate in the by-election, lamented how people today do not know if they would be arrested or not for lodging police reports.

Previously, he said, police would investigate whether a particular report had basis or otherwise, but the same cannot be said today.

Mahathir said he was ‘lucky’, too, in that he had been called for interrogation thrice.

“They asked me many things, but perhaps because I'm stupid, I didn't answer,” said Mahathir in his trademark cheeky humour at an event organised by Pakatan Harapan here today.

“If you want me to answer, charge me and I will answer in court,” he added, to applause from some 300 attendees at the event.

Once in court, Mahathir said he, through his lawyer, had the right to ask Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor on the authenticity of a picture depicting the latter boarding a private jet.

“I want to ask whether the picture is authentic, with 12 people carrying big bags.

“If we want to ride planes we have Malaysia Airlines (MAS) and we can go anywhere, but she has to rent a jet which costs RM80 million and then they say they have no money,” he said.

Mahathir’s dig was in reference to the expose made by PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli who had revealed that Rosmah used a private jet for an overseas trip to Istanbul.

In response to Rosmah’s aide Rizal Mansor, who said that the jet was chartered for two months, Rafizi estimated that RM86.4 million, therefore, was spent to rent it.

Mahathir had been questioned by police over remarks he made against Umno branch leaders as well as attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali.

After leaving Umno, Mahathir spearheaded the Save Malaysia movement which urges, among others, the resignation of Najib.

Lone ranger PAS needs support from Najib, claims Mahathir

SG BESAR POLLS Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has claimed that PAS is now courting Umno as it requires support after being left as a stand-alone party.

"PAS is now alone. That is why they want support from (Umno president) Najib (Abdul Razak) in particular.

"PAS will not criticise Najib. As as stand-alone party with no more support, they need to seek help from Najib. Help in what form, I don't know," said Mahathir at a press conference after delivering the keynote address at a DAP-organised forum in Sekinchan.

He said this when asked whether he would also support PAS Sungai Besar candidate Dr Abdul Rani Osman if the Meru assemblyperson endorsed the Citizens' Declaration to call for Najib's resignation.

Mahathir earlier pledged his support for Amanah's Azhar Abdul Shukur who had signed the Citizens' Declaration.

Mahathir reiterated the two by-elections would not result in a change of government or its policies, but would make a statement.

"This by-election is a referendum.

"It is a move to show Najib that the rakyat have rejected him," he said.

Cuts both ways

Asked whether a victory for BN would then be seen as an endorsement for Najib, Mahathir said, "If you have a referendum you have to follow what the results are."

He, however, warned that it would lead to further destruction of the country's administration.

"People who support Najib either don't know what is happening, or they have dedak (animal feed) in their mouths.

"Whatever that may mean," he quipped.

Dedak is a metaphor for being obligated to the hand that feeds one.

PAS' campaign in both Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar have been shadowed by claims of future cooperation with Umno, although it has been repeatedly denied by the party's top leaders.

However PAS Youth chief Nik Abduh Nik Aziz was today reported in Sinar Harian suggesting otherwise, saying if Umno walks the Islamic path, "there would come a time when we can all unite".

Dr M hits campaign trail, declares support for Harapan candidate

SG BESAR POLLS Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has declared his support for Parti Amanah Negara Sungai Besar candidate Azhar Abdul Shukur.

This is after Azhar today signed the Citizens' Declaration to support the call for prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's resignation.

"I am now no longer a member of any party. Not Umno and not any other party. I am here as a concerned citizen.

"That is why I am here. To support an Amanah member who signed the Citizens' Declaration to remove Najib," said Mahathir in his keynote address at a DAP-organised forum on 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion scandal.

This is the first time Mahathir has openly campaigned for Pakatan Harapan after previously stating that he is against Najib and BN.

Even after several months since the Citizens' Declaration was launched, Mahathir said he still felt "awkward" sharing the stage with his former enemies.

The forum was attended by about 500 people who mostly wore Amanah's orange-coloured T-shirts.

In explaining reasons why Najib should be rejected, Mahathir insisted that never in his 22 years as prime minister did he receive as much as RM2.6 billion.

"I used to be the prime minister and I never received that much money.

"Even if I did, such donations must be rejected because we would have to 'sell ourselves' to foreigners," he said.

Najib and 1MDB have consistently denied all wrongdoings raised against it, despite ongoing probes by several foreign authorities.

Among other speakers at the forum include Selangor DAP chief Tony Pua, corruption watchdog C4 executive director Cynthia Gabriel and constitution expert Prof Abdul Aziz Bari.

Azhar is running against PAS' Dr Abdul Rani Osman and BN's Budiman Mohd Zohdi for the Sungai Besar seat.

Jobless man gets 14 months jail for exposing self to woman teacher

Programmer who last month alleged he sold 900,000 signatures to the Save Malaysia Movement, has now penned a second SD retracting his first one.

PETALING JAYA: The programmer who last month alleged fraud in the Citizens’ Declaration petition is now singing a different tune.

Azharuddin Othman has purportedly made a second Statutory Declaration (SD) retracting his first one (which alleged the fraud), citing “mistakes” in the latter, a report in news portal Malaysiakini said.

In the original SD, Azharuddin had alleged that he sold a database of 900,000 names to Syarul Ema Rena Abu Samah aka Ratu Naga, to be provided to the Citizens’ Declaration.

The latest SD is being circulated in several Facebook pages, such as Otai Bersih and Kelab Mukhriz Mahathir, said the report.

He said he signed the new document to avoid legal action, and that it was done willingly and without coercion.

“I would like to state that I do not know the person known as Ema (Ratu Naga) and never had any dealings with her.

“Before this, I was hired to hold a press conference based on the text given by the person who hired me, which is Badrul Hisham Shaharin (Chegubard),” he said. The SD bore a commissioner of oath’s stamp based in the Palace of Justice in Putrajaya, said the report.

The portal contacted Badrul Hisham, who claimed the new SD was fake.

“You guys seem to be happy spreading false SDs,” he commented on the two Facebook pages which ran the post.

He also told Malaysiakini the new SD was “slander by (former premier Dr) Mahathir (Mohamad)’s team.” He is also expected to hold a press conference on the matter tomorrow.

Dr M to speak at DAP's 1MDB events at twin polls

The last time Dr Mahathir Mohamad hit the campaign trail was during the 2013 general election, where he, among others, went to Gelang Patah in Johor to urge voters to place DAP strongman Lim Kit Siang’s political career six feet under.

Much has changed since then.

Now, the former premier is set to make his first appearance in the Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar by-elections at DAP-organised events over the weekend.

Mahathir is slated to deliver the keynote address at a special colloquium on 1MDB and the multi-billion ringgit deposits in Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's bank accounts.

Announcing this, DAP publicity secretary Tony Pua said the two-day event is titled: "Special Colloquium: 1MDB & Najib's Donation: The Straw that Breaks the Camel's Back?"

"In conjunction with the twin by-elections in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar, DAP is organising a special two-day colloquium to discuss the impact and implications of the RM55 billion 1MDB and Najib’s mysterious US$1 billion ‘donation’ scandals.

"Mahathir has kindly agreed to deliver the keynote opening address of the colloquium in both Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar,” he added in a media statement.

Lim would be closing both sessions.

Mahathir had said he is prepared to speak during the by-elections on the Citizens' Declaration platform if any party was willing to organise such an event.

To date, he has yet to make an appearance.

Pua said the event would be held at Dewan Restoran Hao Xiang Chi in Sungai Besar and Dewan Restoran Chun Ji in Kuala Kangsar concurrently beginning at 9.30am until 2pm on June 11 and 12.

He said the events would discuss whether the scandals were merely a storm in the teacup as claimed by Najib's supporters or would ultimately be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

"The by-elections in Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar will also measure the people's endorsement of Najib's involvement in the 1MDB’s global financial scandal which has already brought down a 143-year-old Swiss BSI Bank," he said.

He said the speakers for Sungai Besar include Cynthia Gabriel, Abdul Aziz Bari, Dzulkefly Ahmad, P Gunasegaram, Zaid Ibrahim, Clare Rewcastle Brown (via skype) and Pua himself while the panellists in Kuala Kangsar include Ambiga Sreenevasan, Husam Musa, A Kadir Jasin, Maria Chin Abdullah, Nga Kor Ming and Khalid Samad.

The event would be conducted in both Malay and English.

Najib has denied abusing public funds for personal gain, and blamed such allegations on Mahathir and those in cahoots with the former premier to engineer his downfall.

Mouths stuffed with 'animal feed' cannot voice dissent: Dr M's diagnosis

Apart from one or two dissenting voices, Umno has been supportive of its president Najib Abdul Razak in the face of numerous allegations against him.

And Dr Mahathir Mohamad has diagnosed the problem.

According to him, Umno members are stuffed with "animal feed (dedak)" and this in turn made them silent.

"It is said that animal feed was stuffed into the mouths of party members to keep them silent.

"There are even party members who admitted to receiving as much as RM1 million and RM2 million to shut their mouths about the crime that is clearly happening.

"They will just agree to everything," Mahathir said in his latest blog post.

The term "dedak" is often used to refer to people who have received benefits from certain quarters and have therefore become compliant to them.

Mahathir said it is for the same reason that a vote of no-confidence against the prime minister cannot be put into motion.

"Normally, when a leader abuses power, the Federal Constitution gives MPs the right to a no-confidence vote in the House.

"But because of animal feed and various pressures, no Umno and BN MPs, apart two from Umno, would dare to support a no-confidence vote if it is tabled," he said.

Mahathir claimed that Umno division leaders were also silent after seeing other leaders being arrested and charged after questioning the prime minister.

Likewise, he said Umno branch leaders were also sacked for critcising Najib.

"Regardless of Najib's wrongdoings, regardless that billions in government funds had gone missing, regardless of Najib suddenly possessing billions in his personal bank accounts which the source cannot be explained, BN MPs and Umno division leaders remained silent," he said.

Mahahir also lamented the loss of freedom of speech under Najib's government, claiming that the people's right to speak was under siege.

"The print and electronic media is fully controlled by Najib and no longer report the truth.

"Information is twisted that they do no reflect the real facts. Attempts are made to block the alternative media," he said.

Mahathir had accused Najib of corruption over the deposits of billions in his personal bank accounts, claiming that it is linked to state-owned 1MDB.

However, the prime minister denied this, and stressed that he had never taken public funds for personal gain.

He said the money in his personal bank accounts was an Arab "donation".

Attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali has also cleared the prime minister of any wrongdoing.