Just retire gracefully, Dr Chan tells Dr Mahathir

KUCHING: Former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad should just retire gracefully as his time to run the country is over, opined former deputy chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam.

“There is time and place for everything. When our time is past, we should not try to come back. Our time has passed because the way we think is out of touch with a lot of things happening on the ground.

“So we have to learn to let go. I mean he has done so much for the country. So he should relax and enjoy life. He deserves to have a good retirement as he has done so much for the country,” 81-year old Dr Chan told the media on the first day of the Chinese New Year.

Dr Mahathir, 93, is now leading the Pakatan Harapan, a loose opposition pact to try to oust Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tub Razak. However, his health has not gotten any better as he was just discharged from National Heart Institute (IJN) a few days before the Chinese New Year.

Dr Mahathir was even quoted on numerous occasions that he was willing to take over as interim prime minister for just two years, should the opposition win the next 14th General Election.

Meanwhile, Dr Chan urged national leaders to curb various elements of extremism in the country as it could harm the social fabric on which the country was founded.

“There are some extremism in Peninsular Malaysia and the leaders don't seem to stop, otherwise they should be put somewhere. It should be made clear that some of these forms of extremism should not be allowed in the country. Don't use religious and racial lines.

“So stop it right from the start. Don't care whoever they are, whether they are Chinese, Malays, Indians or whoever because if we don't stop it and we allow them to continue because its ‘sedap' to say.

“But we are glad that nobody said stupid things like that in Sarawak. Why?...because we don't even think about it. So it's very sad that our country is moving that way,” he said.