Mahathir says he's withdrawing support for Najib
Published on: Tuesday, August 19, 2014
PETALING JAYA: Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad says he has lost faith in the Government as his repeated advice against some of its policies had gone unheeded. He said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's administration had failed to learn a lesson from Barisan Nasional's poor performance in the 13th General Election, and continued to introduce policies that were destroying interracial relations and the country's economy. "I have no choice but to withdraw my support. That too has not worked.
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Therefore, I have no choice but to criticise," he said in a post on his blog, chedet.cc, on Monday. Dr Mahathir, who was Malaysia's longest serving Prime Minister, hit out at the Government's supporters for refusing to advise their leaders on matters of national interest. "I am criticising because I believe that leaders who are not criticised will believe that everything they do is right. Only when they are criticised, do they realise their mistakes."If nobody else will criticise them, then let me be the one to do it, even if it means I am abused. I have to accept that," he said, referring to his sacking from Umno in 1969 for criticising Tunku Abdul Rahman and being shunned for criticising his successor, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
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He said that his criticisms, however, had led to both leaders eventually resigning as prime ministers, stating that he too had resigned before he was pressured to do so."It is not that I do not love my leaders, but I love my country more," Dr Mahathir wrote.
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He said Najib's policies and approaches were no better than Abdullah's, and blamed the former for listening to his enemies when abolishing the Internal Security Act (ISA) in 2011."These actions did nothing to reduce opposition from the other side. Instead, the crime rate increased as many gang leaders were freed." The former Prime Minister said Najib's humble approach towards neighbouring countries had exposed Malaysia's internal affairs to interference from these nations. "However, the views of the race and the party that have long supported this Government and helped to protect it have not been given fair treatment," he said. Dr Mahathir also criticised the Government for using public funds to gain support from the people every time there was an election. "This makes the people too dependent on the Government. The people's motivation to work hard and succeed is affected when they are rewarded without any effort. "It is not helping the nation's development," he added."The people's spirit to work fades away when they are rewarded without making any effort. This will not help in developing the country," he wrote.Dr Mahathir was apparently referring to the populist 1Malaysia People's Aid (BR1M) cash vouchers which the Government hands out twice a year to the people.But Najib has defended BR1M from Dr Mahathir's constant criticisms, saying that it was part of the government's efforts to move away from blanket subsidies and, instead, provide targeted aid to the people.Dr Mahathir also added that Najib was ruining the economy by prioritising imported goods at the expense of the local industry."Extra holidays are given to the point that there are workers who take holidays for over a week."The minimum wage is increased without taking into account rising costs, which could reduce local business's competitiveness," he added.Dr Mahathir said all of these policies had continued because none of the government's supporters dared to criticise their leaders."I notice that many Malays do not criticise their leaders. Even though their leaders are obviously in the wrong, no one dares to openly reproach them," he said."My choice to replace Abdullah was Najib. But after a while, I can see that Najib's policies and actions are no more effective than Tun Abdullah's."Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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