No end to my attacks, vows Mahathir

No end to my attacks, vows Mahathir

'No one can try and shut me up because I have a big mouth. I am going to use my big mouth to expose all the misdeeds of the present government. They will try to stay in power but, one day, truth will prevail. They will pay a price for converting the Malaysian government to the family government of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.'

"For this small election, the state government mobilised resources making it look like a presidential election," he said.

"I say three cheers for this government ... you have used a big sledgehammer to kill a single mosquito. But this single mosquito is still right here!"

"I don't want to be a Lee Kuan Yew, or becoming a senior minister. I have no intention of coming back to the government.

But I have a duty to correct things which go wrong to make sure that this country goes along the right path and to make sure that this country is not used by anybody for their own personal or family interest."

"The BN government has become a government of Abdullah's family members. He (Abdullah) can deny it but we know what (his son-in-law) Khairy is doing.

"If he changes, it's OK. If he changes the foreign policy (and resolves to discard policies that are too pro Singapore, the US, the British and the Australians), restrore the editorial staff of the (New) Straits Times,.stop the ban on reporting about what I say, and allow me to talk to the people, then he can stay on as the prime minister.

Govt will have to jail me to shut me up, he says while renewing criticism of Abdullah

TWO days after his defeat in a divisional election, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is back on the war path.

He said yesterday that the 'so-called defeat' will not stop his attacks on his successor.

'No one can try and shut me up because I have a big mouth. I am going to use my big mouth to expose all the misdeeds of the present government.

'They will try to stay in power but, one day, truth will prevail. They will pay a price for converting the Malaysian government to the family government of Abdullah Ahmad Badawi,' he said.



He said the only way the government could stop him was to throw him in jail.

On Saturday, the former premier suffered a shock defeat in his bid to become a delegate from his Kubang Pasu division in Kedah.

The loss indicated he does not have enough grassroots support within the ruling party in his battle with Prime Minister Abdullah.

But Tun Dr Mahathir is clearly not deterred.

In an escalation of his clash with Datuk Seri Abdullah, he called the Prime Minister a liar and focused his attacks on his family.

In particular, he again attacked the Premier's son-in-law, Mr Khairy Jamaluddin, who is seen as influential and powerful.

Mr Khairy, who used to work for the Prime Minister, has left government service but remains an ambitious politician.

'He (PM Abdullah) can deny, but we all know of the influence of Khairy. He chose certain persons to work in Level 4 (the office of the PM's advisers) and ministries, and they are powerful.

'People with business proposals have to see Khairy. He has no position in government, but everyone must see him to get approvals,' Tun Dr Mahathir said.

He also said Datuk Seri Abdullah was lying when he said his son, Mr Kamaluddin Abdullah, did not have government contracts for his company Scomi.

The former premier claims that Scomi has RM1 billion (S$420 million) worth of contracts from state companies.

He also accused Datuk Seri Abdullah of wrongdoings as he had been implicated in the United Nations oil-for-food kickbacks scandal.

Last year, a UN report listed a Malaysian company with links to Datuk Seri Abdullah's sister-in-law as having paid kickbacks to participate in the scheme to buy oil from the Iraqi government.

The UN investigation committee cleared Datuk Seri Abdullah of any wrongdoing as he had reportedly merely wrote introductory letters for his sister-in-law's company.

Tun Dr Mahathir also attacked the Prime Minister's policies, saying that 'either he changes or he steps down'.

'Change the policies or change the government, that is for Umno to decide,' he said.

Among the policies that he has repeatedly complained about are the national auto policy which he felt disadvantaged the national car Proton, and the cancellation of the bridge to replace the Causeway.

Yesterday, he also criticised the country's foreign policy. He said the government no longer dared to speak against the United States or Britain, but instead bent over backwards to please them.

He also claimed that Malaysia was intimidated by Singapore and had shelved negotiations to revise the price of water sold to the Republic.

'We are still allowing it to be sold for 3 sen per thousand gallons, and by 2011, the agreement will expire. We will no longer have the chance to claim back payment,' he said.

Tun Dr Mahathir left yesterday for a 10-day visit to five cities in West Asia, Pakistan and Kazakhstan. He returns on Sept 20 and is more than likely to escalate the attacks.

'I have other ideas, I have lots of ideas,' he said.

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Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who failed in his attempt to be elected a Kubang Pasu Umno delegate to the Umno general assembly, has cited bribery as one of the reasons for his defeat.

Some delegates, he alleged, were given RM200 each in an envelope which also contained a piece of paper listing the favoured candidates.

“I admit I will not be able to provide ample proof, but one of the delegates who was casting her vote passed on this piece of paper when we were shaking hands,” he said, holding out a piece of paper containing the numbers of the seven favoured candidates out of 15 people vying to be the division delegates to the assembly in November.

The former Umno president said he kept the paper; and when the results were out, six favoured numbers were selected while his son, Muhkriz, although his number was not listed, won a place.

“This is the price of the dignity of the Malays – RM200. I am sad because I know the existence of money politics in the party.

“However, I can’t believe that the party leadership used money to ensure my defeat,” he told a group of supporters who turned up at the Perdana Leadership Foundation here after his defeat over the weekend.

Another reason he cited for his defeat was the massive use of federal and state government machinery.

He said Kubang Pasu Umno members were not willing to lodge a report because “they will be subjected to all kinds of questioning.”

“Three cheers for this Government, they have succeeded because they used the biggest sledgehammer to kill one tiny mosquito,” he said.

The former prime minister said he would continue to expose the misdeeds of the present administration.

“I don’t care if they don’t like me, these people who run the Government. I care for the ordinary people. I think they have not rejected me,” he said.

“They are still friendly, they still want to kiss my hand. From the smiling faces, I can assume they don’t hate me. But I hear many people do not like the present Government.”

He said the Government could try to shut him up.

“I have a big mouth and am going to use this big mouth to expose the misdeeds of the Government. They can try to stop me from talking; the only way they can stop me is to throw me in jail,” Dr Mahathir added.

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Dr M's Bribery Allegation In Kubang Pasu Polls 'Very Serious' - PM

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has described as "very serious" the allegation by former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that bribery was one of the reasons for his failed bid to be elected as a Kubang Pasu Umno delegate.

The Prime Minister and Umno President however said the party had the mechanism to deal with such things.

He said the Kubang Pasu Umno division might be queried and be asked to submit a report to the party leadership on the conduct of the last Saturday's election in which Dr Mahathir lost in his bid to become one of the seven elected delegates from the division to the Umno General Assembly in November.

"(Kedah Umno liaison chief) Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid and Kubang Pasu Umno head Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum should know better. I leave it to them," he told Malaysian journalists covering his attendance at the Sixth Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) which ended here Monday.

Among others, Dr Mahathir had alleged that some delegates were given RM200 each in an envelope which also contained a piece of paper listing the favoured candidates.

Speaking to a group of supporters who turned up at the Perdana Leadership Foundation in Putrajaya yesterday, Dr Mahathir, who is also former Umno president, said he accepted his defeat but said he lost because people used money to win in the elections.

Abdullah said he had told Mahdzir and Johari not to bring in outsiders to meddle in the Kubang Pasu Umno affairs.

"I still remember telling them not to bring in outsiders to "disturb" the Umno members or the Kubang Pasu Umno division.

"That's what I told them. I told Mahdzir and Johari not to bring in outsiders from other divisions. This is Kubang Pasu affairs, let the Kubang Pasu Umno members make their decision," he added.

-- BERNAMA

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Rasuah di Kubang Pasu: PM jangan pura-pura tidak tahu

Perdana Menteri, Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi yang kini menghadapi krisis keyakinan paling buruk, tidak boleh dipercayai samasekali jika beliau enggan menyiasat dakwaan rasuah yang begitu terbuka dan berleluasa dalam pemilihan perwakilan Umno Kubang Pasu ke perhimpunan agung parti itu November ini.

Sambil membangkitkan kesepakatan umum mengenai rasuah dalam pemilihan tersebut, Ahli Jawatankuasa PAS Pusat, Mahfuz Omar berkata, Perdana Menteri sebagai Presiden Umno jangan lagi berdolak-dalik dan berpura-pura kononnya tidak ada bukti berlakunya rasuah dalam pemilihan itu.

"Sekarang telah tersebar luas ke seluruh negara bahawa seorang perwakilan dari Umno Cawangan Kampong Darat ke mesyuarat agung Umno Bahagian Kubang Pasu itu telah mengaku menerima wang sogokan sebanyak RM200 di dalam sampul berwarna coklat, sekeping wang RM100 dan dua keping wang RM50 pada pagi 9 September di Dewan Wawasan dan seorang lagi perwakilan dari Umno Cawangan Kampong Paya Dudor juga mengaku menerima wang sogokan RM200 dalam sampul berwarna coklat.

"Perdana Menteri jangan lagi berdolak-dalik dan mendakwa 'saya tidak terlibat dan saya tidak tahu apa-apa langsung mengenainya'," kata Mahfuz.

Sambil menyifatkan apa yang berlaku itu memalukan bangsa Melayu, Mahfuz mengingatkan Perdana Menteri bahawa jika beliau terus berpura-pura tidak tahu dan enggan bertindak ketika seluruh negara sudah tahu apa yang berlaku itu, beliau akan diingati sebagai Perdana Menteri yang sangat memalukan bangsa Melayu.

Kalah kerana sogokan

Walaupun menerima kekalahannya dalam pemilihan itu, bekas Perdana Menteri, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad dipetik oleh Agendadaily sebagai berkata, "sudah tentu kita kena menerimanya (kekalahan) tetapi saya percaya kekalahan saya kerana sogokan kepada para perwakilan".

Menurut Dr Mahathir, beliau tahu berlaku sogokan kerana satu senarai yang mengandungi nombor mereka yang sepatutnya dipilih telah diberikan kepada sebilangan perwakilan dan mereka yang menang adalah mereka yang disenaraikan dalam senarai itu.

"Inilah senarainya (sambil menunjukkan senarai tersebut kepada para wartawan) yang diberi. Saya percaya mereka yang mengundi, bukan semua tetapi sesetengah mereka, membawa senarai ini dan mereka hanya pangkah nombor ini.

"Semua nombor ini kecuali nombor 14 menang. Nombor 14 kalah kerana entah kenapa para perwakilan mahu pilih nombor 10, anak saya (Datuk Mukhriz). Maka dia menang. "Senarai ini saya percaya dimasukan dalam envelop bersama duit. Saya diberitahu ia RM200. Maka harga kehormatan para perwakilan RM200," katanya.

Dr Mahathir sekadar berada di tempat kesembilan dalam pemilihan itu dengan 227 undi.

PM hadapi krisis keyakinan

Mengulas undi yang diperolehi oleh Dr Mahathir itu, Mahfuz menyifatkannya sebagai krisis keyakinan kepada Perdana Menteri. "Walaupun berhadapan dengan kempen dan serangan yang begitu sengit dari para pemimpin dan tokoh-tokoh Umno serta ditambah pula dengan curahan rasuah yang sangat menjijikkan sama seperti yang mereka lakukan dalam pilihanraya, pengaruh Dr Mahathir tetap gagal dibenam dan beliau masih menguasai kira-kira 48 peratus perwakilan mesyuarat agung Umno Bahagian Kubang Pasu itu.

"Jika kira-kira 48 peratus sokongan yang diperolehi oleh Dr Mahathir itu menggambarkan sokongan yang beliau terima dari semua bahagian Umno di seluruh negara, ia jelas menunjukkan hampir separuh ahli Umno tidak yakin kepada kepimpinan Perdana Menteri. Beliau tidak lagi layak memimpin negara ini kerana menghadapi krisis keyakinan yang begitu buruk," katanya.

Menggunakan jentera kerajaan

Mahfuz juga mengencam tindakan menggunakan jentera kerajaan dalam pemilihan tersebut dan menyifatkan sifat khianat dan kegelojohan para pemimpin Umno di bawah pimpinan Perdana Menteri hari ini menggunakan jentera kerajaan sudah sampai ke tahap yang tidak terkawal lagi.

Penggunaan jentera kerajaan itu diakui sendiri oleh Dr Mahathir. "Mereka gunakan cara lain termasuk mengunakan pegawai kerajaan dan orang parti dari tempat lain ... ini adalah antara sebab kenapa saya kalah.

"Saya bukan tidak gembira. Saya telah membuktikan ini sebuah kerajaan yang tidak adil. Kerajaan yang sanggup mengunakan jentera kerajaan untuk parti," kata beliau. Bagaimanapun, Dr Mahathir enggan mengadukan apa yang dibangkitkannya itu kepada Lembaga Disiplin UMNO.

"Saya tidak percayakan lembaga itu. Salah seorang anggota lembaga itu bercakap menentang saya, Osman Aroff ahli lembaga itu. Dia bercakap menentang saya, maksud anda saya akan komplen kepada dia?" katanya.

Hanya penjara boleh menyekat

Walaupun kalah dalam pemilihan itu, Dr Mahathir bukan sahaja tidak mahu menghentikan kritikannya ke atas Perdana Menteri dan kerajaan malah beliau kelihatan lebih bersemangat untuk terus mendedahkan apa sahaja yang beliau yakin tidak betul.

"Saya akan terus mendedahkan segala hal tidak betul. Mereka boleh cuba menutup mulut saya. Mereka boleh cuba sekat saya dari segala media.

"Mereka boleh cuba menyekat saya dari bercakap kepada orang ramai. Saya tidak dibenarkan bercakap dengan sesiapa, tetapi saya akan terus bercakap kepada orang ramai," katanya.

Malah, beliau mendedahkan para pemimpin Umno menggunakan pelbagai cara untuk menyekat beliau dari bertemu rakyat.

"Macam pergi ke Johol (jemputan dari sebuah cawangan dalam bahagian Kuala Pilah) hari itu. Tiba-tiba ada konsert pop ye ye. Tiba-tiba dengan tujuh buah bas untuk ambil orang dari Johol supaya tak dengar ucapan saya. Itu pun ada 300 orang datang (media melaporkan 500 orang), nak dengar juga.

"Kita tak boleh tutup mulut 27 juta manusia yang ada di Malaysia ni. Tak boleh tutup telinga dia, dia akan dengar," katanya.

Dr Mahathir ternyata tidak mahu berundur apabila beliau menyatakan: "Satu-satunya cara mereka boleh menyekat saya ialah menyumbat saya ke dalam penjara".


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