Dr M: As GE14 loser, Umno should keep quiet
SERDANG: As losers of the last general election, Umno has no right to suggest anyone to be the next Johor mentri besar, says Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
“It is the winning party (of the general election) who names the mentri besar, not the losers. Losers should keep quiet.
“Tan Sri Muhyiddin (Yassin) has other jobs to do. We will put up a candidate (to replace the Johor mentri besar),” said Dr Mahathir.
He was commenting on the suggestion by Johor Umno that Pakatan Harapan choose Muhyiddin, who is Home Minister and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) president, as the new Johor mentri besar after Datuk Osman Sapian resigned on Monday.
Muhyiddin was Johor mentri besar from 1986 to 1995.
Pakatan parties have submitted names for possible candidates to replace Osman, but Dr Mahathir as Bersatu chairman had stated that the candidate must come from Bersatu in line with the coalition parties’ agreement during the general election.
He also refuted claims that the Pakatan government was interfering in state matters of Johor by deciding who should be the mentri besar.
“I believe Johor is part of this country. Unless it is a foreign country, I don’t interfere in internal affairs of foreign countries,” he said.
On Wednesday, Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar said certain groups should stop meddling in state matters.
“On matters concerning Johor, don’t be a busybody in meddling with the state affairs as this sovereign state still has a Sultan,” said Sultan Ibrahim.
Dr Mahathir said there were various attempts by certain parties to pit the government against the royalty.
“There have been a lot of attempts to make the Rulers unhappy with the government. They single out the Rome Statute and things like that, but it will not succeed.
“It will fail because this government is elected by the people and this is a democracy. They cannot just get rid of the government and substitute it, unless of course you want to drop democracy and become a kleptocracy or become an autocracy,” he said.
(A kleptocracy is a government of corrupt leaders who abuse their powers for personal gain, while an autocracy is a system of government in which supreme power is concentrated in the hands of one person.)
The Prime Minister said this to the media after launching the Malaysia Autoshow 2019 organised by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and Malaysia Automotive Robotics and IoT Institute here yesterday.
In his speech at the event, he said encouraging Energy Efficient Vehicles and related engineering issues was proof that the government was serious about improving the automotive industry.
“The planning and approaches taken in this industry are based on high technology and focus on developing the local supply chain and other new innovative businesses.
“It will also create a spin-off for the whole Malaysian economy in keeping with the global developments,” said Dr Mahathir.
He pointed to the 3.8% increase in car sales in Malaysia and the RM2bil export of vehicles.
He also said the local automotive component exports worth RM12bil was proof of the importance of the automotive industry.
“I am sure Malaysia’s wish to create a national car brand is important to further develop the automotive industry in the country,” said Dr Mahathir.
Over 170 exhibitors from seven countries are taking part in the largest annual autoshow in Asean, which ends on Sunday.
Also present at the event was International Trade and Industry Minister Darell Leiking.