Saifuddin: 'Troublemakers' Dr M and Hadi should be ignored

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his new-found ally Abdul Hadi Awang should be shunned by the public for being “troublemakers”, at least according to PKR secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

Saifuddin did not mince his words when he said that the pair had been causing problems for almost three decades when they should be building the nation.

"Both are 'problem makers'. In the last five years, both have created (political) instability in the country due to their selfish interests,” he said when delivering his speech at the Kedah Unity candidate introduction and manifesto launch in Sungai Petani, Kedah, last night.

“So right now, during the candidate announcement, it’s broadcasted live in the country and overseas.

“Let people know that even though the state election is in Kedah, we want to assert that we no longer want to mention these two characters. This is the end of it, we move on,” said Saifuddin, who is also the home minister.

In recent years, both Hadi and Mahathir had been playing up racial issues.

Mahathir had accused the non-Malays, without furnishing evidence, of wanting to “change the ownership and name” of Malaysia.

In his latest salvo against the non-Malays, the two-time prime minister said it was against the Federal Constitution to promote a multiracial Malaysia.

On July 25, when appearing alongside Hadi on a panel, the former Pejuang president repeated his claims that many non-Malays in Malaysia refused to assimilate with the "true land owners", as they rejected the Malay language and culture, unlike those living in countries such as Indonesia or Thailand.

Outdated politics

Meanwhile, Hadi had previously accused non-Muslims and non-bumiputera of being the “root of corruption”.

He made the accusations in August last year, which PAS leaders then backed by citing a “survey” by a local university.

However, while the study found that 73.4 percent of convicted bribe-givers were non-Malays, its findings on bribe recipients were the opposite.

According to the study’s lead author Christine Chong Siew Pyng, she said her study found approximately 82 percent of convicted bribe solicitors or takers were Malays.

While admitting that it was unimaginable to see the long-time arch-enemies share a stage, Saifuddin came up with a reason for it.

“What brought them together was not the future or unity of the Malays.

“They represent revenge, envy, jealousy, hatred, old and outdated politics.

“Mahathir is unhappy about Anwar Ibrahim becoming the prime minister. That is his (Mahathir) motivation,” Saifuddin said.

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