Dr M defends ISA as countrys saviour in budget speech
If Muslim fanatics are allowed to be violent in their efforts to topple the government, the country would be unstable, chaotic and the economy will crumble, said Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in his Budget 2003 speech in Parliament today.
Mahathir, who is also acting finance minister, said the government has been able to save the country from such a chaotic situation by upholding the "rule of law".
"The Internal Security Act is the main law that has saved us. Today, the liberal west has admitted how important such preventive laws are to safeguard the security of this country," he said.
"This principle (rule of law) is important, not only applicable to the government but all of its branches such as the civil service, judiciary, police and army.
Professional
"They must be professional and obey the laws which have been endorsed by the people's representative in the Dewan Rakyat," he added.
Mahathir stressed that if anyone did not respect "the rule of law and separation of power, democracy will crumble and there will be anarchy".
"In a situation of anarchy, economy cannot be developed. We will become like other Muslim and non-Muslim countries, always weak, oppressed and played out by foreign powers," he added.
Mahathir read his 79-page budget speech to a packed House.
Budget 2003 is called " Bajet " instead of " Belanjawan ", the Malay term used in past years. Mahathir said the old word was not appropriate as it meant a plan of revenue and expenditure for a period only.
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