Dr M Serves Another Anwar Bashing With A Dollop Of Spin

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Dr Mahathir Mohamad fired another salvo at Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim but appeared to take the latter’s words out of context.
According to the former premier, the new government has “ruled that the people must not talk about race and religion.”
However, there is no such ban and the prime minister’s recent warning of zero tolerance was aimed at those who incited racial and religious sentiments.
Mahathir had raised this in his latest media statement this evening, in which he reiterated the allegation that the government was behind several venues cancelling the booking for his planned Malay people’s proclamation gathering.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim“Obviously, this rule is directed at the Malays,” he said.
“This rule is in fact racist because it denies the rights of the Malays. Talking about multiracialism and multi-religion is okay. It is okay because it is in favour of the other races. This is also racist.
“No one can deny that in this country, the Malays are faced with many problems. It is obvious that if these problems are not tackled now they will get worse. The government knows this.
“Its (the government’s alleged) ban on the Malays discussing their problems and finding ways to overcome them is at best undemocratic and is anti-Malay. That again is racist,” he added.
‘Malay proclamation blames Malay leaders’
Mahathir also accused the government of not being sincere in its campaign against corruption, stating that the dragnet is focused on the opposition.
“So far, the anti-corruption campaign singles out leaders of the opposition. Those in the government who are known to be corrupt are not investigated.
“This shows the campaign is about removing the leaders of the opposition so that there would be no opposition to the government in the state election,” he added.
Former premier Dr Mahathir MohamadThe former premier said if the government is committed to battling corruption, it should allow the public gathering to launch the proclamation.
“Actually, the government does not know what will be said at the gathering.
“Even the declaration does not blame other races. It blames Malay leaders who have been found guilty of stealing government money, money laundering and corruption,” he added.
Among others, the 12-point proclamation states:
The Malays have never controlled the nation’s economy. Even their little stalls have been taken by others.
Of late, the only power they possessed, political power, has also slipped out of their hands.
The fate of the Malays at present and in the future can no longer be determined by them.
The cause for this is the carelessness of Malay leaders themselves.
The Malay party built on the foundation of religion, race and nation has been turned into a party to enrich oneself.
Jostling for power and money has destroyed Malay unity.
The Malays are so weak that even the sovereignty of their homeland will slip from their hands. Their future is bleak. Poverty is forcing the Malays to sell their lands.
- Mkini

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