Former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's claim that he did not order the arrest of people for political reasons but had instead released them from prison has incensed Parliamentary Opposition Leader Lim Kit Siang.

Lim, who was among the more than 100 people detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) during Operation Lalang on Oct 27, 1987 said Mahathir should get his facts straight.

Yesterday, Mahathir had defended his human rights record, brushing aside his involvement in the 1987 dragnet which saw political leaders, activists and religious leaders being detained without trial.

"As for Operation Lalang, I can tell you I told Lim Kit Siang that he will not be arrested but then the police arrested him so I cannot just tell the police not to as they have their reasons to do so.

"At that time, they were playing up Chinese racial sentiments and that's why they were detained. Not political. I don't detain political opposition personalities under the ISA, I release them," said Mahathir as quoted by The Sun daily today.

Lim, in a statement today, however said he does not recall Mahathir telling him that he would not be arrested.

"It is unworthy of Mahathir to pass the buck to the police. He not only defended the initial 106 arrests by the police under the ISA, he also exercised his powers as home minister to formally issue two-year ISA detention orders for 49 Malaysians, including seven DAP MPs," said Lim.

Tensions insinuated

Lim also lambasted the often repeated assertion by Mahathir that DAP members were arrested under Operation Lalang for inciting racial sentiments.

Lim provided a quote by the late Tunku Abdul Rahman, who in describing the political climate at the time said: 'It's not a question of the Chinese against the government but his (Mahathir's) own party, Umno, who are against him'.

Lim argued that the racial tensions were insinuated by members of Umno itself, which culminated with an Umno Youth rally ten days before Operation Lalang, where banners with inflammatory racist slogans were displayed.

"But no action was taken against the Umno Youth leaders who enjoyed immunity and impunity for such seditious and criminal incitements," said Lim.

Lim reminded Mahathir not to deny his role 'in masterminding' Operation Lalang, which eventually led to the suspension of three newspapers and a subversion of the media, the judiciary and organs of state.

"Mahathir cannot shirk responsibility [...] he must come clean and apologise to the nation for masterminding Operation Lalang, the darkest chapter of human rights in Malaysia," demanded Lim.