KUALA LUMPUR – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has branded Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin a dictator following the prime minister’s move to secure a nationwide emergency.
Dr Mahathir, who is a former prime minister himself, said the emergency’s implementation means that democracy in Malaysia has been thrown out of the window, adding that this is all meant to grant Muhyiddin absolute power, to keep the top job.
“A dictator rules by decree, and whether it is right or wrong, you wouldn’t know. We are no longer democratic. We are sacrificing democracy to give him full power to do what he likes,” the 95-year-old Langkawi MP told BFM Radio’s Breakfast Grille programme today.
“My party, Pejuang, for example, won’t be registered, and you can’t question (it). Because there is no way we can appeal.
“He (Muhyiddin) is, in that sense, a dictator.”
When it was pointed out that Dr Mahathir has a reputation of being labelled a dictator, with his use of the Internal Security Act during Op Lalang in 1987, when more than 100 individuals were detained without trial, he said it was different, as he still had to take a cue from his cabinet.
“Some of my cabinet members (were) very strong in their views. So, there is a cabinet that ensures you don’t do things that are unacceptable.”
Dr Mahathir served as prime minister from 1981 to 2003, when he was Umno president, and from March 2018 to February last year, when he was Bersatu chairman.
Despite being given unfettered powers, he said, Bersatu president Muhyiddin does not seem to be doing a good job administering the country.
The economy has yet to recover, he said, and the people will bear the brunt of the emergency rule and reimposition of the movement control order to contain Covid-19.
“While the emergency gives tremendous powers to the prime minister, so far, he has not shown that he is able to handle problems in the country.”
Asked what he would do differently to combat the pandemic, Dr Mahathir said: “Allocation for dealing with the pandemic was very small. We need a bigger allocation, we need to have more hospitals.”
He said the current situation does not warrant an emergency, noting that Malaysia remains peaceful, and the government has enough powers to deal with the virus crisis.
“It’s not like other countries, where people are protesting against government orders. In Malaysia, anything the government says, we will abide by, and won’t take to the streets.” – The Vibes, January 15, 2021
