Opposition in-fighting akin to supporting Najib, says Mahathir

Former prime minister says opposition parties should drop the attitude of choosing which party they want to work with and unite to take on the BN.

(FMT) – Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has once again stressed the importance of all opposition parties coming together to fight the Barisan Nasional (BN).

The pro-tem chairman of newly-formed Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) said the attitude of some opposition parties which refused to work with others, leading to internal bickering, was no different than a vote of support for the ruling government.

“(If) the opposition coalition is fighting amongst themselves, they will lose. That attitude simply means they support the BN leadership under (Prime Minister) Najib Razak,” he said when met by reporters after a Perdana Leadership Foundation talk here today.

Yesterday, Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah reportedly said PAS was open to discussions with any party with regards to working together, except the DAP and Amanah.

DAP Youth in a statement on Aug 11 said they would not work with Bersatu which, they claimed, was practicing racism, despite DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang having welcomed the formation of the new party.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir refuted the allegation made by the family of the late Megat Junid Megat Ayub yesterday that the latter, while holding the post of Deputy Home Minister had signed an arrest order under the Internal Security Act (ISA) on Mahathir’s instruction.

In an Astro Awani report, Megat Junid’s son Megat Fairouz Junaidi had made the claim in response to Dr Mahathir saying that he had not signed any ISA arrest order, but instead had given the authority to Megat Junid.

“I don’t know, never heard this. This is new. Maybe (as a son) he knows more than I do,” Dr Mahathir said.