YOURSAY ‘Yes, Dr M, why go to court when you can lock up your critics?’

As PM, I never sued my critics, says Mahathir

FellowMalaysian: Former PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he did not have to resort to taking his critics to court; he just answered them.

Yes, Mahathir's way of 'answering' was by carting all his vocal opponents away and locking them up in detention centres without trial under the vicious might of the ISA (Internal Security Act).

Mahathir was the force behind the recent array of opposition leaders who were charged under the Sedition Act. Yet, he now has the despicable decorum to criticise PM Najib Razak for doing what he had wanted him to do after accusing Najib of being lame and weak in taking on his critics.

A vintage politician like Mahathir can do no wrong as he will simply 'deflect and divert' his faults and failings to a convenient third party.

Disgusted: Of course, it is easier to sue as it will immediately kill off any further criticism. Once the matter is in court, it may become contempt of court to discuss the case in public until it is decided by the courts.

If Najib has to answer to critics, he might find himself flummoxed by the questions asked and may unwittingly give away secrets so far hidden under OSA (Official Secrets Act) regarding 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Berhad).

Najib has never been comfortable facing the press or when facing the opposition. He is such a shifty character that his usual modus operandi is to run away and hide and let his minions defend him.

Another reason for suing is, the courts would not dare to make any unfavourable judgment against a PM. They are afraid to do so since Mahathir himself sacked the honourable judges who ruled against him in the Umno deregistration drama 25 years ago.

So whichever way it is, the opposition will lose.

Rupert16: Najib is not worth his salt as a PM when he has to resort to litigation to counter his critics and the opposition.

This notwithstanding, I suppose he has to resort to this course of action as he is carrying a "heavy baggage" (pun intended) and that he is hardly in the country when his presence is needed to answer his critics.

Waktamnoko: It is Najib's right to take anybody to court if he was not happy with the 'damaging' allegations against him. Likewise, it is also the accusers’ right to defend themselves in court.

But Najib should know that everything will be laid bare in court, even if he manages to 'partly' win the case.

When in the past he refused to answer any questions regarding the many allegations against him, he now has to. In short, there is no place for him to hide if there is any semblance of truth in the allegations.

Hence the recent 'chickening' out by Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil when she withdrew her suit against Pandan MP Rafizi Ramli.

I too is of the opinion that Najib, in due time, will also withdraw his suit. There is too much skeletons in the cupboard so to speak.

A shrewd defence lawyer might even ask questions just to further damage his 'reputation' and not so much as to win the case. Over to you, Najib.

Bamboo: Dr M, you were lucky that the Internet wasn't so prevalent during your time. Much of your misrule and misdeeds were not reported and not known to the majority of people.

And why go to court when you can just lock up your critics with ISA?

SusahKes: Of course, you didn't need to sue, Mahathir. You took the easier way out - put your critics under ISA, revoked printing permits for newspapers that dared to criticise you, replaced editors whom you felt weren't pliant.

Yes, why waste time at the courts when you can accomplish your objective within one day when the entire executive is under your thumb?

MAS failed because M'sians stupid, says ex-PM

Pemerhati: All ethnic groups have their share of the very intelligent, the average and the stupid. A smart leader would select the smartest people to work for him so as to produce the best results.

But for Mahathir, meritocracy is a dirty word and during his 22-year premiership, he went out of his way to almost entirely fill the public service with Malays, many of whom were of low quality and he completely sidelined the many smart and able non-Malays.

This racist policy resulted in the plunge in standards in all fields, including in companies like MAS (Malaysia Airlines). Thus the stupidity displayed in MAS and in many other organisations is not because Malaysians are stupid but because of Mahathir’s and Umno’s racist policies.

They practice racism to endear themselves to the majority Malays so as to stay in power by getting their electoral support and then steal their money. Ironically, the biggest losers are the Malays.

Democracy: Malaysians are stupid? Yet you sold MAS to Tajudin Ramli who started all the mess in our national carrier. Prior to this, MAS was as good as SIA (Singapore Airlines)

Isn't Tony Fernandes, who turned AirAsia into world-class airline, a Malaysian?

Anonymous #23456263: A politician who refuses to fade away, insisted on starting an automobile industry which can't compete internationally, and where locals are forced to buy shoddy cars - what is the word to describe this scenario?

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