Mahathir: I welcome support for my administration
But backing should be evident in Parliament, says prime minister
PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said yesterday he welcomes any support for his government but that backing should be evident in Parliament.
“In Parliament, they should support (me), not just blindly oppose,” he told reporters after a special address to Education Ministry staff yesterday.
He was responding to comments that Umno plans to throw its support behind him. “Yes, they have said that they are willing to support me. Even PAS says so. If they want to work with me, just support-lah.”
He said Umno and PAS could support the government’s initiatives. And in jest, Mahathir said he felt like he was “floating” whenever he received support.
Umno supreme council member Lokman Adam recently unveiled an audio recording allegedly of party president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi asking members to back Mahathir.
On another matter, Mahathir said it cannot be considered as bribery if money was paid to offset costs in large business deals.
He was referring to allegations that aircraft manufacturer Airbus SE had paid AirAsia and AirAsia X executives, as part of a deal to secure an order for 180 aircraft.
It was also reported that Airbus and the UK Serious Fraud Office (SFO) later entered into a deferred prosecution agreement, in which it was stated that Airbus had sponsored a sports team owned by AirAsia executives, while negotiating airplane orders. AirAsia ordered 406 aircraft from Airbus between October 2005 and November 2014.
This prompted AirAsia Group chairman Datuk Kamarudin
Meranun and group chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes to relinquish their posts. They have also denied that the SFO had contacted the low-cost carrier when investigating the allegations.
“Yes, I heard about the allegations that AirAsia is involved in corruption. I hesitate to comment, but usually when governments buy equipment, we always ask for an offset,” Mahathir said.
“For instance, if we buy an airplane, we ask for an offset and whether we consider it as bribery or not, that is up to you.
“For me, if we can get something because we buy something at a high price, why can’t we accept it? If the money went into your pocket, then that is bribery,” he added.