Vell Paari: Dr Mahathir unfit to talk about democracy
KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should be the last person to talk about democracy or freedom, said MIC treasurer-general Datuk Seri S. Vell Paari.
He was referring to Dr Mahathir’s remarks against Umno Youth deputy chief Senator Khairul Azwan Harun over his report against the former prime minister for trying to overthrow a democratically elected government.
“Dr Mahathir is talking about democracy and freedom. But Malaysia was denied democracy and freedom when he was in power.”
He said in 2014, Dr Mahathir was quoted as saying that “freedom of speech, free press, democratic rights to demonstrate and strike must be circumscribed to protect the country as a democracy”.
“Now, Dr Mahathir is making his usual U-turn by saying that it is part of democracy to overthrow a government,” he said yesterday.
He said perhaps Dr Mahathir had forgotten that during his time, if anyone dared to speak up against him on any scandals, they would be caught and locked up or put in the Kamunting Detention Centre under the Internal Security Act.
“During his time, most Malaysians suffered from ‘democrazy’ policies where we were led by a dictator who did whatever he wanted without thinking about the people’s wellbeing.”
He said for the opposition to nominate Dr Mahathir as their prime ministerial candidate, it pushed Malaysia back to the dark days of a “democrazy” dictator.