Dr Mahathir fears Barisan will lose GE14 under Najib
Muzliza Mustafa, The Malaysian Insider
Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has told a Malay non-governmental organisation of his fear that Barisan Nasional (BN) will lose in the next general election if Datuk Seri Najib Razak continues as prime minister.
Mohd Ridzuan Abdullah, the president of Ikhlas, an NGO representing Malay traders and small businesses, said they met the former prime minister for a dialogue lasting more than an hour in which Dr Mahathir talked about BN’s future under Najib’s leadership.
“Tun (Dr) Mahathir was quite clear on this. He is firm in his stand that he is not in favour of PM. He said BN may lose GE14 if Najib continues to rule,” Ridzuan told The Malaysian Insider.
The meeting was held yesterday at Dr Mahathir’s office at the Perdana Foundation in Putrajaya.
It was initiated by Ikhlas, or Pertubuhan Ikatan Usahawan Kecil dan Sederhana Malaysia, which wanted to meet the former premier over concerns about the economy and BN’s future.
Ridzuan told The Malaysian Insider that they had not intended to discuss Najib’s leadership, but that Dr Mahathir himself had raised the issue.
“It was not on our agenda when we met him but he told us that just because he shook hand with Datuk Seri Najib or took pictures with him, it does not mean that he supported him,” Ridzuan said.
He said besides Ikhlas, representatives from Martabat Jalinan Muhibbah Malaysia, a group whose members were mainly former Malay army personnel, the Muslim Consumers Association and a few others were also present at the meeting.
Last month, Dr Mahathir had criticised Najib’s leadership and said he was withdrawing support for the latter because his feedback had not been heeded. Dr Mahathir, however, has not made a clear call for Najib’s resignation.
Ridzuan said Dr Mahathir had told the meeting yesterday that mistakes should be pointed out so they can be corrected.
“He said what is wrong is wrong. We have to point it out and not sit on the fence. This is the only way to move forward,” said Ridzuan, adding that the Malay NGOs would request another session with Dr Mahathir in the future.
Ridzuan also said that all the groups at the meeting agreed that the Sedition Act should not be repealed.
