Dr M personally prefers a strong opposition
PUTRAJAYA: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is not a fan of a two-thirds majority government.
“Personally, I don’t like a twothirds majority government. I want a strong opposition,” he said when asked about the perception that accepting former Umno MPs is part of Pakatan Harapan’s strategy to get a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
Dr Mahathir said the opposition was “totally shattered and everything is broken down”.
“MIC is not functioning, MCA is not functioning. In Sabah, they are not functioning. The whole of Umno is split into so many parts ... some want to remain in Umno, some want to come out.
“Some want to give up politics. There is no opposition that is credible at this moment,” he said in an interview with select media organisations at his office here.
“Even when I was in the government before, when I was head of Barisan Nasional, I used to say we need an opposition because without an opposition, it is like having no mirror to look at yourself.
“You think you are beautiful, but actually you are very ugly,” said Dr Mahathir.
The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia chairman made it clear that it would not be a walk in the park for former Umno members, especially the elected representatives and leaders.
He said their applications would be scrutinised and their behaviour observed to see whether they would fit in with the party.
The party would only welcome those who were free of wrongdoing or who were not ardent supporters of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
“Some of them were cursing Pakatan Harapan and calling me names ... Those people we cannot accept.
“They have to be scrutinised to see whether they qualify or not,” he said.
Dr Mahathir said Bersatu had imposed certain conditions on Umno MPs and leaders before they could join Bersatu.
“Some of them have met me and they gave an undertaking that they want to join Bersatu but they will not try to get any position in the party. They will not hold any position nor will they be candidates in future elections.
“And we told them, to join Bersatu, there are conditions.
“Number one, you must leave Umno and become independent for a short while, and during that time you must show you are supportive of the Pakatan government and then you can apply ... but the applications will only be considered after we have observed your behaviour,” he said.
In a dialogue session at the inaugural Dr Mahathir Mohamad Leadership Series in Kuala Lumpur, Dr Mahathir said second chances were not impossible but it takes time for people to be convinced.
“Is there a second chance? I didn’t believe in it. When I stepped down in 2003, I thought it was the end. I thought I was going to enjoy life, go on cruises and things like that.
“After I stepped down, groups of people came to see me asking me to do something.
“I did not want to be involved but in the end, I became responsible for the removal of one person,” he said, in reference to his successor Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Dr Mahathir said he then “helped” in the installation of another person, in a clear reference to Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.
“Then another group of people came and asked me to do something. I tried advising, I tried talking (to Najib) but it didn’t work.
“In the end, I was forced to challenge the person and I was lucky I got my second chance,” he said.
Dr Mahathir said he had been sunk and run down in his political career but he was fortunate enough to be able to get up and try again.
To a question on his biggest regret, Dr Mahathir said he is very bad at choosing people.
In his keynote address, he stressed the importance of trust and integrity and stressed that when people start losing their trust in the government, even the strongest government would fall.
“The present government is aware of this. Everything will be done to get rid of the government if it is not trusted by the people.
“In order to be trusted, we must deliver our promises. Promises in the manifesto we issued were drawn up when we were not in power and therefore, we made promises thinking we would lose.
“Now we have to double up our effort to win the trust of the people. We find it difficult to carry out what we promised because the situation does not permit us to do so,” he said.