YOURSAY | 'Why didn't Dr M show such concerns when Project IC was running rampant in Sabah?'

Dr M: People support my views on Forest City over ‘that person’

FellowMalaysian: I fail to comprehend why Dr Mahathir Mohamad has become so concerned and critical of Forest City in Johor. The property developers are just foreign investors who saw great business potential for real estate projects in Iskandar Malaysia, because of its close proximity with Singapore, and are convinced enough to invest billions in developing their property schemes.

This is a legitimate business and will invariably bring benefits to the local businesses, as well as residents living nearby. If the project has attracted many buyers from China, I see no issues here. Many Singaporeans have bought properties in Johor Bahru and elsewhere in the country.

Can we possibly stop the Chinese from buying as investors and occasionally stay here and enjoy their wise investment? Does the country have to "commit" to special citizenship or resident status to these foreign buyers?

Mahathir claimed that Forest City will eventually become a major suburb or enclave where hundreds of thousands Chinese from China will settle and live and will eventually ignite a sovereignty issue.

Mahathir has a fertile imagination, to say the very least, but he has unduly and fallaciously sown fear into people's mind.

Why had he not posed such concerns and expressed such foreboding thoughts when he surreptitiously allowed Project IC in Sabah while he was the PM - which enabled the state's population to shoot up by 60 percent within a span of 15 years?

Anonymous #45522856: Mahathir, Project IC changed Sabah's demography, which has made Sabahans feel like a minority in their own state.

Anonymous 637541435986091: Dr M, I hope you cool it off with regard to Forest City. That is a development project with the view of growing Johor Bahru and the sultan has to be credited for that. It doesn't have the same stigma as 1MDB and China-related land, power and rail takeovers, like what MO1 is designing. I don't think you need our beloved Sultan of Johor as an enemy.

RM2.6 billion turkey haram: Mahathir was never my idol, but on this issue I agree with him 100 percent. Selling land to foreigners is not just a one-off deal. It is a continuous process. The Chinese would not stop buying in Johor alone.

Before we realise it, they would have accumulated a sizeable portion of our land. In the end, price of properties would skyrocket and our youths would be priced out of the property market. It is not a race issue, as many accuse Mahathir of. It is in the interest of all Malaysians.

Pratamad: As a Johorean, I for one support Mahathir on this issue. I hope the governments of the day at state and federal levels will look at the issue, not just as a simple channel to attract foreign funds, but look at its impact on society, environment and Johor culture.

The sudden influx of foreigners of a same kind is not bringing in diversity and vibrancy, but threatens the existing conditions in the area. The key here is sudden change at a tremendous scale.

Time’s up for PAS, Bersatu to decide soon, says Mahathir

Jaguh: Husam is correct. PAS wants to be the kingmaker. When a party goes against Umno, in the past it was a choice of either PAS or PKR. Now we have Bersatu and Amanah thrown in. So even for direct confrontation with Umno, Pakatan Harapan has to decide who among them will be fielded. Then there is PAS, the third force. Harapan can win with dissenting votes from PAS and Umno.

CQ Muar: This is like a person hopelessly waiting for an answer from one who is playing "hard to get" to agree to marriage. After having pleaded for a long time, there is still no answer. This is exactly the case with PAS.

The time has come to close the door without wasting further effort. Stop giving them the impression that they are indispensable, given their arrogance and fickle attitude. The battle must continue with or without PAS, which in all honesty, is playing hard to get.

Wazerman: No point continuing to woo PAS. Individual parties should not woo PAS to protect their own interests at the expense of the rakyat. Even if PAS joins Harapan, PAS will continue to be the force that can break the camel's back, anytime.

With PAS, Harapan will always be a fractured coalition. Without PAS, Harapan can easily build a united Harapan with a common goal for the rakyat.

The Analyser: If PAS joins Harapan, Harapan will be relegated to the status of third class citizens like the rest of the opposition parties. A clever move by Mahathir to ensure the fight is between him and Najib. Don't join and PAS will remain as the oddball collection of religious loonies who might, if they are lucky, garner 10 percent of votes.

If you opposition diehards don't believe me, then see who is making the news. Mahathir features five times more than all other opposition parties and 20 times more than anyone else in his own party.

Read the signs and heed the message. The hatred that you have generated against Umno potentially will result in a government 100 times worse than Umno.

If anyone thinks I am lobbying on behalf of BN, then you are right. Even though I think they are appallingly awful, they are a good deal better than the alternative, and you know that from past experience.

'Political dictator' Dr M afraid of us, PAS leader claims

Just a Malaysian: Our new Malaysia cannot include PAS. A party claiming to be based on religion yet behaves worse than a secular party. Pakatan Harapan must be brave to meet them, face to face

Teoh Siang Chang: PAS claimed that the "political dictator Dr M is afraid of us". Well, I am more afraid of a religious party that does not have the moral courage to condemn corruption at the highest level.

RCZ: The opposition block begged, cajoled and invited PAS to join them with the main aim of removing Najib and Umno. However, PAS is still playing hard to get and the opposition seems to have finally given them the boot.

We have yet to hear from PAS as to its love affair with Umno, and why it does not want to bring Umno down. It can only mean one thing - money.

That is how Umno works and it has worked on PAS. Good luck with your supporters.

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