‘Tun M never swore in a mosque to prove allegations against him are untrue’

(The Rakyat Post) – Former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir Mohamad has never sworn in a mosque to prove that allegations against him were untrue, unlike his successor Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak said this in response to the elderly statesman’s blog post today in which the latter had questioned this year’s upcoming Umno General Assembly that would be held in December.

Salleh said Dr Mahathir had raised the death of Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu and alleged that there were still many unanswered questions, but Najib had come forward to swear that he was innocent and was not involved in the murder.

“Today, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad posted an article in his blog complaining about all sorts of things.

“Basically he is not happy that things are not being done his way and his hope of embarrassing Najib at the coming Umno general assembly may not materialise,” Salleh said in his personal blog today.

Salleh pointed out that Dr Mahathir talked about the 43 votes he had won during the 1987 Umno party election.

“Until today there is still talk that he had actually lost that party election but cheated to win. Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, in fact, alleged that he was robbed of the Umno Presidency,” Salleh claimed.

Salleh also alleged there were many unanswered questions about Umno’s 1987 party election, but Dr Mahathir never came forward to swear that he did not cheat in that party election as alleged.

“Dr Mahathir keeps repeating the story that he was the legitimate president of Umno.

“The allegations that he was not the legitimate president, however, continues until today. And Dr Mahathir never did what Najib has done by swearing in a mosque that all those allegations are not true,” Salleh added.

In the posting entitled “Menghadapi Cabaran” (Facing Challenges), Dr Mahathir questioned what he claimed as efforts among those in the party to prevent certain topics to be debated at the Umno AGM, especially the Finance Ministry-owned investment arm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), and the RM2.6 billion political donation which was reportedly credited into Najib’s personal account.

The former premier claimed the conference would be closed to the public, and not all delegates’ speeches would be broadcast, further alleging that only the party president’s speech would be aired.

“Actually, (Tan Sri) Muhyiddin Yassin, as Deputy President, should open the conferences for the wings – Youth, Women, and Puteri. Warnings have been issued so that Umno members will not speak about this matter,

“What kind of Umno General Assembly is this,” the veteran leader asked.

He said there were also persistent efforts to prevent him from speaking and meeting with Umno members, and the public at large, adding that the halls where the meetings were held and which he was to attend could not be obtained as all its owners feared being “abused” by the government.

“There is a climate of fear that prevented all activities related to criticising the government. It is akin to an unwritten crime.

“But there are claims that this is ostensibly a democratic country. Anyone who attempts to sabotage Malaysian democracy can be jailed up to 15 years. But the ones sabotaging the Malaysian democracy is the government itself,” he further claimed.