YOURSAY 'Is there no limit to this man's hypocrisy? Only now has it been divinely revealed to him that cash handouts are ‘close' to vote buying?'

Cash handouts 'close to' vote buying, says Dr M

your say LittleGiant: Cash handout is not akin to vote-buying. It is a blatant vote-buying exercise. It is corruption.

And also, former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad's statement that "too much democracy would hamper economic growth" is rubbish and only reflects his narrow-minded thinking of democracy and economy.

Democracy plays a pivotal role in a country's economy. No doubt about that. But it is not less or more democracy or having an authoritarian government that will determine its economic growth. It is corruption and corrupt politicians that will have a huge bearing on the country's economy.

The wealth that these politicians loot from their countries will be the biggest obstacle to its economic growth.

An economically powerful regime with a stifled democracy is nothing but just a big sand castle built on the shores of the ocean - nice to look at but sure to collapse. It will not survive the tests of time and nature.

Starr: "Maybe it is not vote-buying... but it is very close to that," says Mahathir.

This is moral corruption, and 10 times worse than vote-buying. Corruption is corruption, vote-buying is vote-buying by whatever name it's given. For Mahathir to justify in that manner is to condone it, and that's the problem.

The moral fabric of the Malaysian society has been damaged beyond recognition by the unprincipled leadership of the country. It's no coincidence that the country has been on a downward slop for decades in almost every facet of our society.

Vijay47: Is there no limit to this man's hypocrisy? Only now has it been divinely revealed to him that cash handouts are "close" to vote buying?

Perhaps in his dotage he has forgotten that this was business as usual for Umno for the last 50 years and especially during his 22-year reign.

And in the process, he created a favoured class of cronies and reduced an entire community to be bereft of resilience, dignity, and pride.

Oscar Kilo: Cash handout = Vote buying. Plain and simple. And it's my tax money that is being used.

Dr M does not expect BN to win big

Ablastine: Mahathir, on what basis do you think Umno can win? It has nothing good to show after more than 50 years in power.

Many voters are well-informed of Umno's treachery, setting itself up to be the sole beneficiary of the country's wealth. It is solely responsible for all the corruption, inefficiencies and racism in our midst.

Ferdtan: Mahathir, why is the federal government weak? Didn't you play the part of subtly sabotaging BN in the last general election just because of your open hatred for Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's government, and wanting to topple him as PM?

However, you didn't realised it at that point of time, how effective and influential you were with the Umno supporters - that your working against the party had caused BN to lose four states to Pakatan, with PAS retaining Kelantan.

Didn't you before the election, said in a mysterious way, that the country needed a strong opposition? Was that your real wish? Or you just wanted to get rid of Abdullah by weakening him with not-too-good election results?

Now it must be hurtful to you that your past actions, the self-fulfilling prophecy of feigning for a strong opposition, have come back to haunt you. Your poker game of the past not only caused BN to lose seats then, it may now cause it to lose the whole government.

Changeagent: Reading between the lines, it looks like the old master is up to his usual tricks again in undermining the influence and authority of a sitting PM.

Whatever Mahathir is up to, PM Najib Razak's position will continue to be shaky unless he can somehow conjure up a miracle to lead BN to a two-thirds majority win in the next general elections.

Stella Ling: Is Mahathir saying there are two versions of hudud? The PAS' version will see a Muslim's hand being chopped off every Friday for stealing, while for the Umno's version, it is alright for a Muslim to steal?

I'll go with the PAS' version anytime, if only to see all Umno leaders without hands.

Anonymous #18452573: If the former PM feels that a weak government is one that has only a simple majority, then it is time for the rakyat to give Pakatan Rakyat a strong majority so that we will have a solid and good government.

But like what he has said, most of us realise that it is unlikely that we will be able to stop BN as they will still win because there are people out there who still rather vote for a racially corrupted devil they know than for a new and potentially good new government because of the fear of the unknown.

Multi Racial: If it is a fair and free election, Pakatan will win hand down. But with unfair and possibly even massive cheating, Pakatan could be deprived of that right.

But God is always fair. Those who cheat will eventually be punished for their wrongdoing and the deserving one will eventually be honoured with the right to govern.

Hmmmmmmmm: If the ever desperate ex-PM thinks the BN will win with a small majority, things must be a lot worse. No wonder, the PM is delaying the GE.

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