Dr M tells Muslims to be grateful

LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said Muslims must be grateful for the peace and harmony in Malaysia.

This has allowed Muslims to fulfil their religious responsibilities, such as fasting and celebrating Hari Raya Aidilfitri, without any sanction.

Muslims here are more fortunate than their "brothers and sisters" in other Islamic countries who live in fear of threats to their safety, Dr Mahathir said.

"Malaysia is a peaceful and stable country.

"Our economy has shown improvement and there is unity among the people.

"So, as Muslims, we should be grateful for all the blessings from Allah," he said at a breaking of fast ceremony on Friday.

Dr Mahathir also handed over the keys for the Al-Ehsan Mosque in Kampung Temoyong from the developer, Maju Holdings Sdn Bhd, to the villagers.

Dr M blames ignorance for Indon-Malaysia spat

Dr M blames ignorance for spat
The New Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad yesterday expressed his sadness over the recent spats between Indonesia and Malaysia.

He said the call to war against Malaysia was made by those who had no understanding of the relationship between the two countries.

He said allegations about stealing songs and culture which had been blown out of proportion by a small group.

The Indonesian government must act to check the matter, he said before breaking fast with Perkim club members from various institutions of higher learning yesterday.

Asked how Malaysia should respond, the former prime minister said the Malaysian government could get in touch with counterparts in Indonesia seeking their cooperation.

Dr M slams Anwar's street politics

Since his foray into the world of politics, Anwar Ibrahim has frequently 'used' people to further his personal cause through street demonstrations, said former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

by Chan Kong Art - 6 hours ago

Umno history has no demonstration.???.Tun go back to your history books. Tun memang mudah lupa. As one commenter rightly put it..you cannot even get your kubang Pasu division to send you as a delegate to the UMNo assembly, it speaks loudly as to your relevance in UMNO. Just retire gracefully and don't embarass UMNO further.
by Antares - 20 hours ago

The day Anwar Ibrahim becomes Malaysia's 7th prime minister, Mahathir and Najib will have to flee the country or end their days behind bars. The list of serious crimes they have committed in office is almost endless. Anwar is the most feared man in Malaysia to those who have abused their power and perverted the rule of law into rule by law. Gani Patail and Musa Hassan, in particular, have the most to fear from a democratic Malaysia under Pakatan rule. Both were promoted to their present positions by Mahathir for willingly doing his dirty work for him in 1998 when Anwar became a threat to the political status quo. Eleven years later, the same ugly scenario is being repeated with Najib at the helm. All of Mahathir's devious schemes serve only himself, his family, and a small handful of business cronies. He doesn't give two hoots about Umno, the Malays, or Malaysia. give two hoots about, law
by Azmil Tayeb - 23 hours ago

Now that TDM is old and retired he should enjoy his retirement without interfering. Heis just adding salt to the wound and putting more fuel to the fire. During the consttutional crisis he was trying to start a demonstartion to remove the Sultans power. He was the one putting most opposition Leaders to ISA without legitimate reasons. I thought he lost his memory but that is not true today. When he was at the dock in the Ligam Tape hearing, his answers were I dont remember, I cannot recall etc. Liar he is. At this stage he has lost all his respect and credibility. The greatness of a person is unknown until he is dead. Teoh Beng Hock funeral was massive and multiracial too. Cory funeral was great with numbers. TDM yet to be seen.
by subramaniam muthusamy - Yesterday

Opposition leader, Anwar Ibrahim, is the favourite leader at the moment. I think the raakyat is eagerly hoping that DSAI will lead the next federal government. He deserves to become the leader as he has gone through enough trials and tribulations to be admired by the raakyat. Ghandi
by yusoff - Yesterday

Tun, please mind your own biz... you are retired old folk. I'm as a true Malaysian can tell you that the nation is developed by your administrative and the same time our nation into dark also bcoz of you. you are the one fully responsible for our countrie's disharmony and undemocratic. We all in this country living as a brotherhood and please you don't destroy again. you no need to do a single good for us but don't ever try to do nasty. Plz.... Tun. Now time for u to seek peace and not dosa..... I'm very very sorry if i hurted Tun, and thats not my intention eventhough i'm not write person who can advice Tun.
by Loyal Malaysian - Yesterday

The Najib administration is just following in the footsteps of this ex dictator. Why is the government so intolerant of the rakyat voicing their opposition to the ISA? Is it because the ISA is no longer defendable as necessary? The communist insurgency for which the policy was formulated ended decades ago!
by Kanesin a/l SVS Sappania Pillay - Yesterday

Peaceful demos have been part and parcel of any Democratic country. Mahathir is right in that we are not a democratic country and hence peaceful protests are anethma. To acheive owns goal in a autocratic rule people has mass protested, like Ayotullah Khomeni in Iran, Palestinians in west Bank, Indians under Mahatma Gandhi, Africans under Mandela, Americans under Martin Luther King. All this people should be comdemned along with Anwar Ibrahim for opening the eyes and ears of their people. S.Ganesan
by Kevyn Cheah Kok Chuan - Yesterday

Democratic demonstration is a right way to do by Anwar rather than having your opposition in jail just because you have the authority. If you are great, the nation will not be in the spotlight when hundreds were detained in ISA. .
by Lonestar - Yesterday

Aiyoyo. Can the Tun please swear that he has never participated in any street demo before! If he cannot, then why others cannot participate in this democratic process? What is good for the goose is equally good for the gander!
by Krishnamoorthy a/l Rajannaidu - Yesterday

dr.krishna,sungai petani. mahathir should be blamed for this type of street demonstration,because during his tenature as a pm of this country people of this country opt for demostration.because the govt doors closed for any type of discussion,opinion,negotation of public.The govt so adamant because they rule the country for long52 years.what ever they dictate people must follow.mind it mahathir most of the rakyat frustrated and loss belive in BN govt thats why they wants to opt for alternative way to tell the govt that you must change your mid set.if street demonstration must be zero in malaysia govt must listen to people voice.personally no body like demonstration so mahatir hve to advise the govt rather than comment on demonstration and somebody.we are not fools any more.

Mahathir ticking of Petronas - may have backfired on himself

Kit Siang demands Petronas opens its books
By Shannon Teoh

PETALING JAYA, July 4 — Lim Kit Siang urged the Barisan Nasional (BN) government today to open its books on Petronas and give a full accounting of how payments from the national oil company had been spent since its inception.

While the veteran DAP man backed Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad today in questioning how the government spent RM253.6 billion in payment from Petronas, he said the public were also entitled to know how the former PM’s administration had utilised the RM169 billion it received from Petronas.

“Mahathir is right. Malaysians have a right to know how the RM253.6 billion paid by Petronas to the federal treasury in the past six years had been spent.

“But Malaysians have a right to go one step further, to demand how half-a-trillion ringgit contributed by Petronas to the government in the past 33 years – RM4.2 billion under Tun Hussein Onn, RM168.8 billion under Tun Mahathir and RM253.6 billion under Tun Abdullah Badawi – has been spent and to demand a full accounting,” the DAP parliamentary leader said today.

Dr Mahathir, a trenchant critic of his successor Abdullah, wrote in his blog yesterday that “it would be interesting to know what the RM253.6 billion was spent on” since he left office in 2003.

Some of the former PM’s backers have pointed out that there is no physical evidence of just what Tun Abdullah’s government spent Petronas money on, while Dr Mahathir could point to major infrastructure projects from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) to Putrajaya.

But Lim, in calling a for a public inquiry and full accounting of the RM427 billion contributed by Petronas since its inception, responded today that the Petronas adviser’s point that “prudence was the last consideration in the expenditure of the RM253.6 billion Petronas petro-ringgit” should also be levelled at the influential statesman.

“Mahathir had set many bad precedents of abuse and misuse of the Petronas ringgit in his 22 years as prime minister,” Lim said in a press statement today.

The Ipoh Timur MP said that “Mahathir had not bat an eyelid” to misuse funds from Petronas, set up in 1976 as the national oil company, to “bail out dubious projects”.

“The most infamous being the RM2 billion bailout of his son Mirzan Mahathir’s shipping concern Konsortium Perkapalan Bhd (KPB) in 1998 when KPB was floundering in billion-ringgit debts with its share price falling to RM3.78 by February 1998, a fraction of its pre-financial crisis level of over RM17,” the DAP stalwart said.

He claimed that there were other occasions under Dr Mahathir when “Petronas was used as a national piggy bank” such as the RM2.5 billion and RM1 billion bail-outs of Bank Bumiputra in 1986 and 1989, aiding MAS and Proton in their financial struggles as well as to fund mega-projects such as the Petronas Twin Towers and the shifting of the federal administration to Putrajaya

Lim also demanded a full accounting of the RM15.2 billion royalty owed to the Terengganu government from 2000 to 2009, which he claims were “hijacked by the federal government when the Terengganu state government fell to PAS.”

The doubts over government management of Petronas funds come after the nation’s only Fortune 500 company announced on June 25 that it had paid RM30 billion in dividends to the federal government for the financial year ended March 31, 2009.

A special dividend of RM6 billion was declared last year and this amount is exactly the increase against the previous financial year’s dividends. This is despite a 14 per cent decline in net profit to RM52.5 billion due to lower crude oil prices and higher operating costs.

Apart from the dividends, Petronas also paid RM29.4 billion taxes, RM6.2 billion royalties and RM2.2 billion export duties for the last financial year, totalling RM67.8 billion to the federal government against RM56.8 billion in the previous year.

But the government has in the past stated that money from Petronas goes into the treasury’s consolidated fund and cannot be linked directly to any particular expenditure. There is mounting concern over the management of Petronas as it contributes to 45% of the country’s economy.

Mahathir Attacks Najib's Liberalisation Policy

KUALA LUMPUR, July 4 — Former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has dismissed the efforts of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to liberalise the economy, saying they were “not going to help anybody”.

The plan seemed designed to make Najib popular, said Dr Mahathir, adding: “It will not help the Chinese, Malays or Indians.”

Dr Mahathir was asked to comment on Najib's steps to open up the economy to make it more attractive for foreign investors.

The steps included relaxing a host of restrictions on foreign investment, including a rule requiring businesses to be partly owned by Malays.

Listed companies will no longer be required to allocate 30 per cent of their stake to Malays as part of an affirmative action programme for the country's Malays.

Among other measures were allowing stock brokers and unit trust management companies 70 per cent foreign ownership, up from the current level of 49 per cent.

Najib also announced a government private equity fund to invest in high-growth industries and promote Bumiputera ownership of Malaysian businesses.

Najib said the Bumiputera rule for companies was neither benefiting poor Malays nor sustainable amid the global economic slowdown, which would force Malaysia into its first recession in a decade.

But Dr Mahathir was not impressed.

“I think it's a kind of move more designed towards becoming popular. I don't know if it will help the economy, because Malaysia has been growing since independence,” The Star newspaper on its website quoted Dr Mahathir as saying.

“Now that there is a lack of growth, this is due more to external reasons. It's not about internal things,” he told reporters.

He also said Malaysia should be cautious of foreign investors keen on total ownership of fund management companies as they “owed no loyalty to the country”.

“They are here to make money. When they can't make money, they go out and we pay the price,” he was quoted as saying.

He asserted the potential hazard of capital flight should investors no longer find the Malaysian market lucrative saying: “In some instances, they come to build factories and produce things for export. Well, that's fine. But when they can openly go into the market, well, that's not good,” he said.

Mahathir is Back in action in UMNO

He's back. After six years of unofficial banishment from Umno, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad today spoke at a party function for the first time.

The occasion - officiating a motivational course organised by Pandan Umno division. The place - Institut Latihan Memperkasakan Umno in Janda Baik, Pahang, a 50-minute drive east of Kuala Lumpur.

This is the first time in six years after stepping down (as premier) that I have the opportunity to address Umno members, said Mahathir, who was clad in a red and white short-sleeve shirt.

He was apparently trying to make a point - red and white are after all the party colours.

Mahathir on a head-on collision with Najib

Dr M says no to third bridge, and no to unity talks
By Neville Spykerman

KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad added today to the growing chorus of criticisms against Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s proposed third bridge to Singapore. He also warned Umno against pursuing the so-called unity talks, in a sign that he is beginning to disapprove of some of Najib’s policies.

The former prime minister said it would be a bad idea to have a government comprising only Malays.

He also revived the idea of building a crooked bridge to replace the Malaysian half of the Causeway, since Singapore was not in favour of a new bridge to replace the structure.

“I think it’s better for the government to build the crooked bridge instead of third bridge,” he told reporters after attending a book launch today. He fears a third bridge would affect operations at the Pasir Gudang Port, adding that replacing the existing Causeway between Johor and Singapore would be more beneficial.

Besides reducing traffic congestion at the Causeway, he said it would allow the free movement of water which would make the straits cleaner.

Dr Mahathir also said that the new Customs, Immigrations and Quarantine (CIQ) complex at the Causeway was not operating at what should be the optimal level.

The CIQ was built to accommodate a new bridge which would have replaced the Causeway but the project was cancelled when Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was prime minister.

On the stand by the Johor Sultan, who also objected yesterday to a third bridge, Dr Mahathir said the “Sultan has his rights and so does the Federal Government”.

The cancellation of the the crooked bridge by Tun Abdullah was one of the significant reasons for the falling out between the two men.

Dr Mahathir eventually left Umno last year and only returned to the party this year when Najib replaced Abdullah as prime minister.

Since then he has refrained from openly criticising government policies.

Besides backing growing concerns that the construction of a third bridge would result in Johor having to lift its ban on the sale of sand to Singapore, Dr Mahathir also expressed his disapproval of the proposed unity talks between Umno and PAS.

He said a unity government with PAS could jeopardise Umno’s relationship with other Barisan National (BN) partners.

The former prime minister said the government needed to explain what their objective was and if they were willing to leave their ‘friends” to form a government which only comprised the Malays.

“I don’t the country wants a government which is 100 per cent Malay”

He said the government has always included non-Malays and cautioned there would be difficulties if non-Malays were excluded.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea”.

Mahathir attacks Singapore's LKY in his website

THE MODERN MIDDLE KINGDOM
By
Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
on June 15, 2009 3:10 PM


1. Ancient China considered itself the centre of the world and called itself
the Middle Kingdom. And well it should. It was far more advanced in every
way than Europe of the Dark Ages. Maybe China is thinking of making a
comeback.

2. But we already have a new Middle Kingdom now. During Lee Kuan Yew's triumphant visit to Malaysia he made it known to the Malaysian supplicants that Singapore regards the lands within 6000 miles radius of Singapore as its hinterland. This includes Beijing and Tokyo and of course Malaysia.

3. Of course this self-deluding perception places Singapore at the centre of a vast region. It is therefore the latter day Middle Kingdom. The rest are peripheral and are there to serve the interest of this somewhat tiny Middle Kingdom.

4. Kuan Yew also explained that the fear Singapore Chinese would control Iskandar whatever is not justified. Malays can also work there. It is good to know that Malays can also work in their own country. I wonder as what? Maybe someone should make a study of the Malays of Singapore just to know what it is like to be a Malay minority in their own country.

5. As for the 3 sen per 1000 gallons of raw water supplied to Singapore Lee says it was absurd for the former Prime Minister of hinterland Malaysia to ask to increase it to RM8 per 1000 gallons. I don't know where he got this. Some Malaysian officers did suggest this figure but we were ready to bargain and maybe settle for RM3. And why not? Johore sells raw water to Melaka for 30 sen, 1000% higher than to Singapore. And Melaka is, I believe, a part of Malaysia! Some Malaysians may see the irony of this.

6. The great 5th Prime Minister has decided that since the people of Johore did not want to sell sand to Singapore, Malaysia would not build any bridge, straight or crooked, or negotiate and settle the other issues like the Central Provident Fund, the Railway land. Maybe the 5th Prime Minister thinks he is punishing Singapore. Actually he is giving Singapore what its wants including the 3 sen per 1000 gallons water until 2061. Think of how many grains of nasi lemak we can buy with 3 sen in 2061. Imagine what 1000 gallons will earn for Singapore at that time. Can't think of a more astute PM for Malaysia.

7. All those who met the great man from the little country were lectured on how Malaysia should be run. We should not have anymore problems now. We have been told the direction to take. MCA must help UMNO to win because Singapore does not want an Islamic Party like PAS to win. We must ensure this. Sorry PAS. Working with the DAP, the offspring of PAP has not endeared you to Mr Lee.

8. I have a lot more to say about this little Emperor but I will reserve it
for later.