‘YOU TWISTED FACTS, DR M’
Minister urges him to say sorry over Anwar’s sodomy case
MINISTER in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan has called on Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to apologise and admit that he twisted the facts of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy case to deceive Malaysians.
Rahman said there were many who were disappointed and angry at Dr Mahathir for signing a petition calling for Anwar’s release from prison.
He said the anger stemmed from the fact that Anwar’s case had been a big issue in the past, with Dr Mahathir as a main player behind it, stirring up the political and economic situation of the country.
“I feel what Dr Mahathir should do now is to openly apologise to Malaysians for giving an alternative view on Anwar’s offence.
“Dr Mahathir must also admit that he twisted the facts and lied to Malaysians,” he said when asked to respond to reports on Dr Mahathir signing a petition to free the jailed PKR de facto leader.
The former prime minister signed the petition at the PKR national congress on Sunday.
Anwar’s battle with his sodomy case began in 1998, shortly after being sacked from his position as deputy prime minister and finance minister, and his expulsion from Umno.
Anwar and his supporters had then blamed Anwar’s prosecution on the then prime minister, Dr Mahathir.
Rahman said that the situation was ironic as Dr Mahathir was the one who said before that Anwar deserved to be in jail, but now wanted to bring him out of jail.
“He (Dr Mahathir) should stop all these ‘sandiwara’ (drama) for political gain.
“If he does not apologise and admit to twisting the facts of Anwar’s case to lie to the people, then him signing the petition to release Anwar is nothing more than a political gimmick for Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia’s (PPBM) short-term gain,” he said.
Rahman also said it was disappointing to see Dr Mahathir, who was supposed to be a statesman, turn into a political joker.
He said Dr Mahathir had lost his credibility among the people by doing things like signing a petition asking for Anwar’s release.
“This is what makes us sad, as we know Dr Mahathir has contributed and sacrificed for the country. At the end of his career, he has destroyed everything he built, including his credibility.”