‘A-G SHOULD TAKE ACTION AGAINST DR MAHATHIR’
PUTRAJAYA: The attorneygeneral should take action against former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad following his testimony in court that he had planned to topple Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak as early as 2014.
National Professors Council secretary (politics, security and international affairs cluster) Professor Datuk Dr Abdul Halim Sidek said such testimony was strong evidence in criminal law, so Dr Mahathir should receive “fair punishment”.
“When Dr Mahathir admits that he had been trying to oust Najib since 2014, he has made a public confession. Dr Mahathir did not realise that he had admitted to having tried to commit a crime.
“As a lawyer, when somebody admits to having committed criminal activities, that is already a big confession and he deserves fair punishment,” he told the New Sunday Times.
Halim also urged the police to initiate investigations and collect evidence so that action could be taken against Dr Mahathir.
He said Dr Mahathir’s “courage” in admitting to trying to depose Najib seemed that he was challenging the legal institution.
“He thinks he is above the law. He wants to show that he is very courageous to remove the prime minister. Police must investigate Dr Mahathir. How can he get away with this and be given such privilege? If other civilians make such a confession, they would be arrested,” he said.
On the new Pakatan Harapan line-up, which sees Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as de facto leader, Dr Mahathir as chairman and Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail as president, Halim described the structure as imbalanced and premature.
“Who has the executive power? We are not really clear about the line-up. Who will lead the party? In BN, we know every component party has its leaders.
“But why is there no DAP leader in the highest posts, despite the party having the most number of parliamentary seats in the coalition?”
Halim said the coalition’s structure did not reflect the strength of each party.
“Is this to show that Pakatan is dominated by Malays so that they can get Malay votes in the next general election? Their domestic affairs are not in order.”