Dr M gets in slugfest with ministers in by-elections

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad gave as much as he got as he took his campaign to the Kuala Kangsar by-election yesterday, after campaigning for Amanah in Sungai Besar the day before.

He accused Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi of having declared assets worth RM230 million when he was Umno Youth chief, at the time when Mahathir was Umno president.

Mahathir also claimed he had briefed PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s alleged wrongdoings, but to no avail.


Zahid, however, told the 90-year-old politician to keep his mouth shut or risk being called senile.

Also hitting out was Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob who said when it comes to betrayal to Malays, Mahathir’s collusion with DAP said it all.

Agriculture and Agribusinesses Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said Mahathir is admitting that he is a “corrupt dictator” as he is now working with those who accuse him of being just that.

Umno defends Rosmah’s jet use

Umno information chief Annuar Musa said Rosmah Mansor has the right to use a government-chartered private jet for the simple fact that she is the prime minister’s wife.

He said the ACJ319 was leased for two months, so it is inaccurate for PKR secretary-general to just extrapolate the cost based on the hourly rate.

Meanwhile, Zahid said Rafizi’s expose on Rosmah travelling on the chartered jet will have no effect on the outcome of the twin polls.

Ministers passes NSC Act hot potato

Zahid refused to entertain questions on why the government did not take into account concerns raised by the rulers, and allowed the National Security Council (NSC) Bill to pass into law without refinement.

He instead passed the buck to de facto law minister Nancy Shukri but Nancy on Saturday said it was under Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Shahidan Kassim’s jurisdiction.

PKR’s Alor Setar MP Good Hsiao Leung urged Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar voters to turn their backs on BN for disrespecting the royals over the NSC Act.

Anti-corruption watchdog C4 said the move is yet more proof that the Najib administration is trying to cling to power.

Other Kinibites

Political rallies in Kuala Kangsar turned into a place to collect groceries, as MCA and Gerakan gave away bags of rice and Pakatan Harapan rally-goers go home clutching sawi, courtesy of a generous supporter from Cameron Highlands.

Gerakan president Mah Siew Keong lambasted Kelantan mufti Mohamad Shukri Mohamad for advising non-Muslims to dress conservatively during Ramadan, purportedly so as to not distract fasting Muslims.

PKR deputy president Azmin Ali, who has thus far been absent from the twin by-election campaign, is expected to be heading to Sungai Besar and Kuala Kangsar this week, putting to rest speculation of a rift in Pakatan Harapan over Amanah’s candidacy.

Abdullah Ahmad, political secretary to second PM Abdul Razak Hussein, dies of cancer at the age of 76.

Looking ahead

The Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar by-elections campaign enters the second half, with five more days to go to polling day.

Muhammad Amirul Azwan Mohd Shakri, who was sentenced to one year’s jail for a Facebook posting against Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Iskandar is expected to appeal his sentence today.