Dr M should sue
There is no dilemma here. Dr Mahathir has to do this alone. He has to sue to clear his name. The smirks, caustic and snide remarks in a blog isn’t enough to clean up his reputation except among his ardent admirers.
THE MALAYSIAN INSIDER
All said and done, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s acerbic and impassioned defence of his administration boils down to one thing. That he should sue those who defame him for saying otherwise of his 22-years in power.
He should sue Barry Wain, the former editor of the Asian Wall Street Journal who wrote Malaysian Maverick which alleged the feisty medical doctor “burned” up to RM100 billion as prime minister.
He should sue DAP leader Lim Kit Siang, which he had reserved the right to, for claiming the same.
He should sue them for defamation if he believes he has been defamed. Dr Mahathir’s excuse that he isn’t like the litigatious Singaporean leaders does not hold water. What is he afraid of?
He should just put to rest, once and for all, all the speculation about his years in power. Not call for another Royal Commission to probe him and his successor Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
Malaysia has had enough of wasting money on Royal Commissions, whose recommendations are ignored. The police management and VK Lingam video clip inquiries comes to mind.
The government of the day is already grappling with the fallout of the theft of two jet engines belonging to the RMAF’s F-5E squadron. It has to deal with an economy that is way behind its neighbours.
It shouldn’t waste time and money to assuage a vexed Dr Mahathir that his administration did not waste RM100 billion. After all, some of the current Cabinet ministers come from his and Abdullah’s time.
Would they feel different now apart from ignoring his wish for Science and Mathematics to be taught in English? Not when they still think building three iconic 100-storey buildings in Kuala Lumpur would provide a fillip for the economy. Or getting a RM628 million trade centre is worth government land that is potentially worth RM15 billion.
There is no dilemma here. Dr Mahathir has to do this alone. He has to sue to clear his name. The smirks, caustic and snide remarks in a blog isn’t enough to clean up his reputation except among his ardent admirers.
Come on, Malaysian maverick. Go sue those who sully your name. Just do it.
