KUALA LUMPUR – The second day of high-level meetings between Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah and political leaders ended with Pejuang’s Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in the spotlight.
Like the other politicians, the former prime minister, who arrived at Istana Negara about 2pm in a grey Proton X-70, spent an hour in discussion with the king.
Although he exited the palace gates without speaking to waiting reporters, Dr Mahathir later held an online press conference to share what transpired during the meeting.
He said he mooted the setting up of a National Operations Council (Mageran) in a bid to resolve the present administration’s instability.
Dr Mahathir said he brought up the idea after seeing former prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein successfully steering the country back to firmer ground following the May 13, 1969 racial riots.
“In the past, Mageran was managed well by Tun Razak to stabilise the country’s fractured politics. He managed to pull opposition parties, such as Gerakan, PPP (People’s Progressive Party) and PAS, into becoming part of the government.
“Tun Razak proposed the New Economic Policy at that time, stabilised politics, and continued ruling with a better majority. If the same principle is applied now, it can work very well.”
After Dr Mahathir’s meeting with the Agong was Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal’s turn. The Warisan president left the palace about 4.20pm following an hour-long audience.
Shafie, the last to meet the Agong today, exited the palace complex in a heavily tinted black Range Rover SUV, also without addressing the press.
This morning, Sultan Abdullah met PAS deputy president Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man and MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong separately. – The Vibes, June 10, 2021
Additional reporting by Azril Annuar
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