Dr M claims being singled out for action, treated worse than opposition

(Malay Mail Online) – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today alleged that he is facing worse restrictions than those imposed on opposition leaders, saying he expects authorities to now pursue him harder over his criticism of Putrajaya.

The former prime minister said he was not only being investigated by the police over remarks he made against Umno leaders, but he and other dissenters such as Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin were being stopped from communicating with party members.

Muhyiddin, who was dropped as deputy prime minister in July, was relieved of all speaking duties at the Umno general assembly last week.

“All halls (at the Umno general assembly) were closed to me, to the point that I could not meet and speak with Umno members and the public. Hotels were warned that they will not get the government’s patronage if I am allowed to speak in their halls,” he wrote in a blog post today.

“Now, Zahid as deputy prime minister and home minister will endeavour that I am further questioned by police over my speeches and blog posts,” Dr Mahathir alleged, referring to Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

Asking what law he breached with his criticism, Dr Mahathir insisted that rebuking the Umno president or even demanding the prime minister’s resignation was not an offence in Malaysia’s democratic system.

The former prime minister added that he was not the only person in the country calling for the prime minister step down, saying that scores of Malaysians have repeated the same demands and even during football games, referring to banners displayed during a match between Kedah and Selangor.

“Why, from the thousands who have asked Najib to step down, am I the only one wanted by the police?”

The former prime minister has waged a campaign for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s removal, ostensibly over the latter’s handling of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and a RM2.6 billion donation to Umno that had been deposited in his accounts in 2013.

Dr Mahathir is under investigation over remarks he made during the Bersih 4 rally in August, in which he suggested that Umno leaders were not speaking out against Najib because they were corrupt.

Ahmad Zahid said on Friday that police will also investigate Dr Mahathir for allegedly asking that Najib be arrested under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, during his speech at Kampung Baru here last Monday.