Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad said deputy minister Tajuddin Abdul Rahman dared to issue his trheat to ‘slap’ the Chinese community because he knows the government is behind him.

"He wants to slap? Ask him to slap,” Mahathir told a press conference in Ampang today.

“He dares to say it because he has (deputy minister’s) position, and the government is behind him. But when he is outside (the government), he wouldn’t dare."

Mahathir was asked to comment on Tajuddin's statement on Thursday that the Chinese community would be slapped if they seek help from outsiders.

He said this when commenting on the Chinese ambassador to Malaysia Huang Huikang's visit to Petaling Street where he spoke out against racism.

Mahathir said that Malaysians were living in fear under the rule of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"We cannot speak, if we speak... we would be questioned. Even if I say rice is good, it would be wrong. This is because Najib's rule is tyrannical - the worst.”

He gave the example of former Batu Kawan Umno vice-chief Khairuddin Abu Hassan who was detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act for lodging police reports in a number of countries in relation to the 1MDB scandal and the RM2.6 billion in Najib’s private bank account.

He was held under the anti-terrorism law on grounds of sabotaging the nation.

"This is the situation in the country, we cannot criticise as it will be considered as sabotage and action can be taken under Sosma,” said the former premier.

Mahathir added that likewise, Umno deputy president Muhyiddin Yassin being removed from chairing important party meetings is also part of Najib's efforts to silence his detractors.

"Silencing people, that is his style. Even I am being silence," he lamented.