KUALA LUMPUR – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad remains unrepentant over being called up for police questioning at least nine times regarding 3R (race, religion, and royalty) issues.
He also claimed that the prohibition on 3R issues is unconstitutional and that only the Dewan Rakyat can make and amend laws.
“Investigate if you want. I’ve been called up (by police) nine times. Ten, 11 (times), no problem. We keep count,” he said during a Perikatan Nasional (PN) ceramah at the Bakri PAS office in Muar, Johor, last night.
Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir has thrown his support behind PN despite not being a member of the coalition or any of its component parties.
He claimed that the coalition is one that is fighting for the fate of Malay-Muslims without persecuting non-Muslims.
Other PN leaders who participated in the event were PN chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang, Gerakan president Datuk Dominic Lau Hoe Chai, Johor PAS chief Abdullah Husin, and PN candidate for Simpang Jeram Dr Mazri Yahya.
Days ago, Malay Proclamation secretariat chairman Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan told Scoop that several PAS leaders had met Dr Mahathir to discuss several topics, including the economic developments of states under PAS rule.
Based on photos shared by Khairuddin, PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar, Kelantan Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud and Perlis Menteri Besar Mohd Shukri Ramli were also present at the meeting.
Previously, Dr Mahathir accused the government and police of being biased in their approach to statements he made that touched on the country’s non-Malay communities, claiming it was a veiled attempt to stifle his freedom of expression.
During his long political career, Dr Mahathir had fraught relationships with PAS and Bersatu – a party he founded and left following the Sheraton Move that saw the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan administration in February 2020, after some 22 months in government.
This fuelled speculation that he was at odds with Muhyiddin and other party leaders about leaving the PH coalition.
Dr Mahathir’s run-ins with PAS go way back, particularly the bloody Memali incident during his first stint as prime minister.
Some 14 Memali villagers and four policemen were killed 37 years ago during a massive siege on the Baling village on November 19, 1985.
Violence erupted when the villagers resisted the authorities’ attempt to arrest local PAS leader Ibrahim Mahmud under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for deviant teachings.
PAS had repeatedly blamed Dr Mahathir for it, but he had defended the actions of the security forces. He apologised in 2018.
In July this year, Dr Mahathir made public his support for PN, making appearances in PAS events wearing party colours to help campaign during the six state elections.
In 1987, during Dr Mahathir’s first stint as prime minister, the police initiated Ops Lalang to avert potential racial unrest in the country.
This operation led to the arrest of over 100 politicians, primarily from opposition parties, and the revocation of licences for numerous newspapers.
However, in March this year, Dr Mahathir denied giving orders for the operation, which was carried out as part of the now-abolished ISA. – September 4, 2023