Mahathir denied Tajuddin's allegation that he forced him to buy Malaysian Airline System Bhd (MAS) from the government to help bail out the central bank.
"I don't remember instructing him to buy MAS shares. At that time the goverment was not short of money. Yes, we lost some money but we knew what to do, how to recover, and we recovered," Mahathir told reporters.
"Perhaps you should ask him how he came up with the conclusion that I forced him to buy MAS," said Mahathir when responding to the charges by Tajuddin.
Tajudin claims a conspiracy over the deal and is suing the government and a number of state-owned companies for RM13.46 billion. Tajuddin was reported to have taken out a RM1.8 bln rgt loan for the purchase and that he was reluctant to buy the under-performing Malaysia Airlines, but that Mahathir told him he was performing "national service".
"I don't ask people to do national service," Mahathir said.
Who is telling the truth and who is lying? I hope Sri Ram will adjudicate this case too.
In the meantime, Mahathir said he was calling a gathering of UMNO party members, claiming he was being deprived of opportunities to voice his opinion.
Mahathir said he was forced to seek a meeting of the UMNO because five invitations for him to address various audiences had been withdrawn in recent weeks after he criticised the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
"I don't know what to do," Mahathir said, adding that he believed the media also were not fully reporting his views.
"So I would like to have an UMNO gathering, so that I can speak to the UMNO people," Mahathir told a news conference. "I'm going to organize an UMNO meeting...as soon as possible."
Mahathir vowed to carry on a fight against the current regime which he calls "incompetent and gutless", and accused his successor of running scared.
Mahathir said now that he has rested for 20 days he will continue his fight against Pak Lah, the man he hand-picked to to be PM.
"That man is afraid of me," he said. "What is he afraid of? If you think what you did is right then why are you afraid?" he told his cheering supporters.
"Already the country is not doing well. Already we have lost respect, especially among the developing world," said Mahathir, standing on the back seat of a four-wheel drive vehicle, his head sticking out through the sunroof, outside Subang airport terminal used for chartered and special flights.
"UMNO itself is not giving me an opportunity to speak," he said. "I am sad. If what you are doing is right why are you hiding?" he said.
On Friday, PM Abdullah reiterated that he had been hurt by Mahathir's statements, saying, "I have feelings too. There were times I was saddened by the things that were said, but I can take it."
Abdullah said government policies will have to change with time, dismissing his predecessor Mahathir Mohamad's accusation that he has betrayed him by changing his policies.
Abdullah said there was an understanding between him and Mahathir to ensure the government policies continue, which is a tradition of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.
"Of course there is an understanding that there is a continuation of policy. That's the Barisan Nasional way...but the approach is different. We have to follow with the time. We have to make adjustments. We have to take into consideration the people's sentiments and views," he said.
"If a project requires us to take a different approach we have to do it," Abdullah said. "What is wrong we will put right, so you have to accept it when we put right."
"The government is privy to a lot of information. Our views are different from an individual's because we see things in a wide perspective," he said.
Wow, wow, wow, this is going to be interesting. Who and which members in UMNO will be attending? I wonder and ponder.
In another news report, Anwar Ibrahim, in an interview said that his former boss, by criticizing the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, "is doing a service by opening up a little democratic space."
"I think it has helped us immensely," he was quoted as saying of himself and opposition parties. "But we have to draw the line...I think it is very dangerous if we decide to endorse a person who subscribes to authoritarian rule. It is an issue of principle."
Anwar, who is seen as the de facto leader of the opposition front comprising the PAS (Pan Islamic Party), DAP (Democratic Action Party) and KeAdiLan (People's Justice Party), admitted that his views on the issue had not gone down well with PAS and DAP leaders when he met with them recently.
"I (told them) the perception of backing Mahathir is not right. What they said was, the party was willing to accept Mahathir if he admitted his wrongdoings and made amends. But do you think he is going to do that?" he was quoted as saying.
"I don't remember instructing him to buy MAS shares. At that time the goverment was not short of money. Yes, we lost some money but we knew what to do, how to recover, and we recovered," Mahathir told reporters.
"Perhaps you should ask him how he came up with the conclusion that I forced him to buy MAS," said Mahathir when responding to the charges by Tajuddin.
Tajudin claims a conspiracy over the deal and is suing the government and a number of state-owned companies for RM13.46 billion. Tajuddin was reported to have taken out a RM1.8 bln rgt loan for the purchase and that he was reluctant to buy the under-performing Malaysia Airlines, but that Mahathir told him he was performing "national service".
"I don't ask people to do national service," Mahathir said.
Who is telling the truth and who is lying? I hope Sri Ram will adjudicate this case too.
In the meantime, Mahathir said he was calling a gathering of UMNO party members, claiming he was being deprived of opportunities to voice his opinion.
Mahathir said he was forced to seek a meeting of the UMNO because five invitations for him to address various audiences had been withdrawn in recent weeks after he criticised the Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
"I don't know what to do," Mahathir said, adding that he believed the media also were not fully reporting his views.
"So I would like to have an UMNO gathering, so that I can speak to the UMNO people," Mahathir told a news conference. "I'm going to organize an UMNO meeting...as soon as possible."
Mahathir vowed to carry on a fight against the current regime which he calls "incompetent and gutless", and accused his successor of running scared.
Mahathir said now that he has rested for 20 days he will continue his fight against Pak Lah, the man he hand-picked to to be PM.
"That man is afraid of me," he said. "What is he afraid of? If you think what you did is right then why are you afraid?" he told his cheering supporters.
"Already the country is not doing well. Already we have lost respect, especially among the developing world," said Mahathir, standing on the back seat of a four-wheel drive vehicle, his head sticking out through the sunroof, outside Subang airport terminal used for chartered and special flights.
"UMNO itself is not giving me an opportunity to speak," he said. "I am sad. If what you are doing is right why are you hiding?" he said.
On Friday, PM Abdullah reiterated that he had been hurt by Mahathir's statements, saying, "I have feelings too. There were times I was saddened by the things that were said, but I can take it."
Abdullah said government policies will have to change with time, dismissing his predecessor Mahathir Mohamad's accusation that he has betrayed him by changing his policies.
Abdullah said there was an understanding between him and Mahathir to ensure the government policies continue, which is a tradition of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition.
"Of course there is an understanding that there is a continuation of policy. That's the Barisan Nasional way...but the approach is different. We have to follow with the time. We have to make adjustments. We have to take into consideration the people's sentiments and views," he said.
"If a project requires us to take a different approach we have to do it," Abdullah said. "What is wrong we will put right, so you have to accept it when we put right."
"The government is privy to a lot of information. Our views are different from an individual's because we see things in a wide perspective," he said.
Wow, wow, wow, this is going to be interesting. Who and which members in UMNO will be attending? I wonder and ponder.
In another news report, Anwar Ibrahim, in an interview said that his former boss, by criticizing the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, "is doing a service by opening up a little democratic space."
"I think it has helped us immensely," he was quoted as saying of himself and opposition parties. "But we have to draw the line...I think it is very dangerous if we decide to endorse a person who subscribes to authoritarian rule. It is an issue of principle."
Anwar, who is seen as the de facto leader of the opposition front comprising the PAS (Pan Islamic Party), DAP (Democratic Action Party) and KeAdiLan (People's Justice Party), admitted that his views on the issue had not gone down well with PAS and DAP leaders when he met with them recently.
"I (told them) the perception of backing Mahathir is not right. What they said was, the party was willing to accept Mahathir if he admitted his wrongdoings and made amends. But do you think he is going to do that?" he was quoted as saying.
4 comments:
Aik, what happen to our country? Very sad with their attitude!
Both are lying -- the MAS issue is so complex there will be truths, 1/2 truths and downright lies -- from both or more sides.
the important thing is that indeed Dr Mahathir had done us a "favour" by forcing issues -- both favoiurable and unfavourable to him, or Pak Lah, to the open -- it can only be good for transparency and accountability.
But Anwar Ibrahim must seize the day -- make sure he can push forward his programme of REFORMS he promised in 1999 -- I'm among many who give him the benefit of the doubt he'd keep his word.
Anwar is right2 in cautioning the Oppo NOT to embrace him -- just use him as a tool for opening up the opague system of which Dr Mahathior was the main architect.
sorry OT here:
friend, can or not put up the press statement from article 11 in your blog? at least not the whole statement but just the link to thier website, http://article11.org.
terima kasih.
Hi Desi,
You seems to bet on the wrong Horse!
Lucia,
Article 11 isn't a problem. The main issue with the Forum is the purported target on Apostasy which is largely an Islamic matter which is best solved by the Islamic Council of Malaysia or the Muslims themselves. It isn't appropriate that other races of other religion should entangle themselves with an issue that is purely Islamic in nature and that does not concern the other religion.
Article 11 is the protection of the rights to practice and accept other religions in Malaysia. However, should a Muslim desires to leave their faith, then he will be subjected to the rules and principles as provided for in the Islamic council.
As long as the other religion is not been restricted legally and morally, I do not intend to poke my nose into it.
However, each individual sees things in their own perspective and that's freedom and democracy. I respect that too.
Post a Comment