Dr M: We don’t want Bersatu to become like Umno ... become corrupt.
‘Ending southern Thailand unrest is complex’
IT WILL take time to resolve the unrest in southern Thailand as the matter is complex, said Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
He said it was hard to put a timeline on when the matter could be settled as it involved several groups.
Asked about the demands on autonomy and separation by rebel groups in the province, Dr Mahathir said there were many definitions on autonomy.
“In Jogjakarta in Indonesia, even though autonomy is given, the central government is still strong.
“Acheh is also still strong although Jakarta has given it autonomy. We don’t know to what extent the demand (by the rebel groups) for autonomy is,” he told Malaysian media here yesterday.
Asked to clarify about earlier reports that he could not give any guarantee on the people’s pick to be his successor, Dr Mahahir reiterated that he would be stepping down as planned.
“As far as I am concerned, I will step down (after two years) and he (PKR-president elect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) will take over.
“What I meant was that, if the people do not want us (Pakatan Harapan), can he still become the prime minister?” he asked.
To another question on whether Anwar would have to wait until the next general election to become the prime minister, he said “no”.
Dr Mahathir also said that anyone who wants to bring back fugitive financier Low Taek Jho was welcome to do so.
“If he (Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein) wants to do it, he can do it.
“We won’t be giving him any help, nothing. “He can do it himself. I don’t need to ask him to become my representative, no way,” he said when asked to comment on the offer from the former defence minister.
Hishammuddin said he would use his previous contacts with the Chinese government to try and bring the fugitive financier back if he HEMANANTHANI SIVANANDAM in Bangkok is in China.
At an earlier meeting with the Malaysia Thai Chamber of Commerce (MTCC) representatives, Dr Mahathir said Malaysians living overseas should contribute in any way to help the government further develop the country.
“We hope you can help to invest in Malaysia or improve trade with Malaysia and Thailand.
“Although they (Malaysians) are living abroad, maybe under better conditions, they must not forget that they are Malaysians.
“They made their first million in Malaysia and I think that they should always care about how the country progresses,” he said.
Dr Mahathir said the government was running the country as best as it could but debts and other commitments needed to be fulfilled.
“We need to pay our debts so running the country at the moment is very difficult.
“We have borrowings of more than RM1 trillion and we cannot pay back the loan because we don’t know where the money is.
“A lot of money disappeared and used for luxurious way of life. We have to find money to pay our debts because you know what happens when you don’t pay your interest,” he said.
Dr Mahathir also said that many more would be charged with the offences committed by the previous Barisan Nasional government.
“What we are seeing today, of course, are charges being made against several people, but there are many more.
“We can’t bring everyone to court at one go. “We have to take one by one, and the most serious is the former prime minister (Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak),” he said.