I had no choice but to join Bersih 4 rally, Dr M says

(Malay Mail Online) – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today claimed that he was forced to take part in the Bersih 4 rally over the weekend despite being opposed to public demonstrations, claiming that the current leadership has removed all other avenues to seek recourse over the nation’s troubles.

In a continuation of his dogged criticism of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, Dr Mahathir claimed that his one-time protege is leading the country to ruin with worsening racial relations, rising living costs and burgeoning national debt.

“This is the future of Malaysia if Najib remains (as prime minister). All avenues to change the prime minister according to the law and nation’s Constitution have been closed by Najib,” he said in his latest post on his blog.

“Only through the voice of the people helped by a vote of no confidence in the Dewan Rakyat can we take down Najib and save the country from the corrupt.

“Hence I was forced to take part in the street demonstration organised by Bersih with the theme of removing Najib due to corruption, and I urge all Umno and BN Dewan Rakyat members to support the vote of no confidence against Najib.

“BN will not fall after Najib is removed. BN is still the majority party,” Dr Mahathir said.

In an unprecedented move over the weekend, Dr Mahathir attended both days of the Bersih 4 rally in Kuala Lumpur.

Dr Mahathir, who was prime minister from 1981 to 2003, was notorious for clamping down on any demonstration against the government.

Dr Mahathir today insisted that he disagrees with using public rallies as there are various other ways to pressure a government that allegedly abuses its power, such as lodging police reports in the hope that the public prosecutor launches court action against the perpetrators.

The former prime minister, however, claimed that the current leadership had dismantled government institutions meant to protect the people’s rights, especially in the way the the various investigations on state-owned 1Malaysia Development Berhad and the RM2.6 billion in donations made to Najib’s private bank accounts have been handled.

“So long as Najib is in power the economy will deteriorate, the value of the ringgit will fall, stocks will fall, cost of living increases due to GST (Good and Services Tax), national debt grows because we cannot pay, unemployment increases, billions in the rakyat’s people is abused.

“This is the fate that awaits Malaysia because of Najib,” Dr Mahathir claimed.