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PAS should explain how it thinks Dr M will destroy country

COMMENT | Dr Mahathir Mohamad is never in defence of anyone else. In fact, he specialises in defending himself and attacking the endemic corruption in the country.

When key members of PAS, one after the other, argue that Mahathir will destroy the country, these adversaries of Pakatan Harapan have to explain what they mean by 'destroy'.

Wasn't it true that Mahathir saved the economy of Malaysia during the 1997-1998 financial crisis by imposing capital controls? Due to this move alone, Malaysia did not end up in the "ward" of the International Monetary Fun (IMF).

Wasn't it also true that back in those days when PAS relished attacking Umno through "Amanat Hadi"- in which all members of Umno were deemed as "kafirs" or infidels - it was Mahathir who put his foot down.

Indeed, when Ayah Pin and Darul Arqam both tried to set up two different sects of Islam, it was again Mahathir who drew a clear line to stop their teachings from spreading.

When the Zionists were up in arms to attack the interests of Palestine, other candidates stayed away in order to avoid and avert the topic.

Moreover, Mahathir was also the one who built the new administrative capital of Putrajaya, the record-breaking Petronas Twin Towers and other iconic landmarks.

Even the new Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) was built at his orders. To top it off, Mahathir linked the city of KL to Putrajaya and Cyberjaya as well, making it a Multimedia Super Corridor which continues to be the main engine in digitising the Malaysian economy.

Common cause

Amanah understands the flaws of Mahathir in the past. But Amanah also knows that he is now trying to correct his own shortcomings from before.

One crucial part of this involves removing Prime Minister Najib Razak, [and end] corruption of stratospheric heights that have gone into tens of billions of dollars.

On this common cause, Amanah is fully backing Dr Mahathir to make the necessary reforms and change. Barring further policy mistakes from him in the future, there is no reason not to give the "grand master of Malaysian politics" a second chance.

PAS is demonising Mahathir precisely because of the Islamist party’s alliance with Umno. The speeches that have come out from the mouth of PAS representatives might as well be written by the political secretaries of Najib, and no one else.


MOHAMAD SABU is president of Amanah.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.

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