Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has lamented that those whose duty is to protect the country, have become the oppressors.

"I have been subjected to police questioning four times. There is another one scheduled after Hari Raya.

"I am sure there will be another police questioning after this is published.

"The police are there to protect us, the people, from criminals.

"But now the police is being used to harass and pressure us. Is this right or is this wrong?" asked Mahathir on his blog today.

Taking aim at his former party Umno, Mahathir ironically cited an American patriot who had said, “My country may it always be right, but my country, right or wrong.”

"In Malaysia it seems that we believe in 'My party, my bosses, may they always be right, but my party, my bosses right or wrong'.

"We are seeing wrong acts being perpetrated in the name of professionalism and discipline. The protectors have become the oppressors," wrote Mahathir.

While he did not elaborate, he was likely referring to the expulsion of his son Mukhriz Mahathir and his ally former Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin, which Umno had explained was a disciplinary matter.

'Gone is separation of powers'

Mahathir, preaching separation of powers, said government action against its critics show that this is no longer the case.

"We are watching, the world is watching. In a democracy there is a separation of power between the legislative, the executive and the judiciary.

"Already we see a part of the judiciary being subverted."

The long-running former prime minister also claimed he had never taken action against his critics.

"When I was prime minister I was called all kinds of names. I was labelled an ultra, a firaun or pharoah, mahazalim, dictator, you name it, just anything derogatory or insulting or demeaning, and I have had it.

"I did not take any action against them, I did not threaten them, I did not ask the police to question them, I did not arrest, detain and charge them for being terrorists, for sabotaging Malaysia’s banking system, sabotaging Malaysia’s economy.

"And I did not threaten to sue them, nor did I sue them," he said.

He said abuse and criticism of leaders is "all to be expected" of those in power.

"If you cannot stand these, then don’t be a politician."