PARLIAMENT | Parliamentary opposition leader Ahmad Zahid Hamid has attributed BN's defeat in the May 9 general election in part to the legacy left by Dr Mahathir Mohamad after his first tenure as prime minister.

Debating the royal decree in Dewan Rakyat today, Zahid said Mahathir left a huge debt for his successors Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib Abdul Razak when he stepped down in 2002.

"What happened in the May 9 general election was a tragedy and a nightmare, but we should remember that the man who helmed the country was the premier for 22 out of the 61 years of BN's rule.

"Meaning, one-third of the 61 years was headed by the leader from the other side," he said.

"So to now blame the previous government is not fair, because not all of that legacy left was entirely good or bad.

"The prime ministers succeeding him were forced to bear the legacy (left by him), which included the debt-laden projects that burdened the people and the government," he added.

Despite this, Zahid said there is no anger, and nobody has resorted to hating for the former leader.

'Drinking toddy'

At this point, RSN Rayer (Harapan-Jelutong) stood up and asked if the 1MDB scandal was also a legacy left by Mahathir. Despite his repeated interjections, he was ignored.

Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) then stood up and asked Rayer if he had consumed toddy, which left the DAP lawmaker fuming.

Rayer urged Bung to retract the derogatory remark, but his request fell on deaf ears.

Ismail Sabri Yaakob (BN-Bera) then came to Najib's defence, saying a person is innocent until proven guilty in court. He pointed out that many are jumping to conclusions, despite no individuals having been convicted of 1MDB-related offences. 

Khairy Jamaluddin (BN-Rembau) added that Harapan was merely finding fault in others.

When met later at the Parliament lobby, Zahid urged Harapan lawmakers to study the Standing Orders more closely.

"They should not simply interject, because they are no longer in the opposition. 

"They are in the government and they should act like one," he stated.