by Koh Jun Lin
Malaysiakini
Apr 6, 2013
The country would be saved if there were more people like Perkasa chief Ibrahim Ali, said former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
The patron of the Malay supremacist group said this today when endorsing Ibrahim to contest the Pasir Mas parliamentary seat under BN’s ticket.
“This is repayment, because in BN we repay good deeds… God willing if he is made a candidate, I would go to Pasir Mas to campaign.
“Perkasa is no small ‘party’, it has 400,000 members. It is probably bigger than PAS, but is not greedy.
“If there are many people like Ibrahim, this country is saved,” he said amid the cheers of a 3,000-strong audience.
Mahathir was speaking at Perkasa’s ‘Save Selangor Rally’ today held on a waterlogged field in Shah Alam.
Mahathir also praised Ibrahim for making the rally the success although he is not contesting in Selangor, which shows that Ibrahim was not serving his own interests in organising the rally.
Ibrahim is currently the incumbent Pasir Mas MP, after winning the seat in the 2008 general election under the PAS ticket with a majority of 8,991 votes.
He has since defected to become a BN-friendly independent MP.
When asked at a press conference later on what if Ibrahim is not picked to contest there as the BN candidate, the still-influential Mahathir said his priority is to ensure that BN wins.
“But I hope my friend here (Ibrahim) whom I have put into prison under the Internal Security Act (ISA) would be given a chance.
“It’s terrible. How long was he detained under ISA?” he said.
In his speech, Mahathir also launched a scathing attack on top Pakatan Rakyat leaders.
Among others, he said it was his mistake to allow his former deputy Anwar Ibrahim to rise through Umno’s ranks, thinking that he is a pious person trying to further Islam through Umno, only to find out later that his only goal was to take power.
I wish Malaysia had 50 or 100 ‘PMs’
“I wish Malaysia has 50 or 100 ‘prime ministers’ so that we can give him one. If he wants Putrajaya so badly, perhaps we can give him a room there,” he quipped, as his audience burst into laughter.
As for PAS spiritual leader Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat, he criticised him for allegedly saying that Umno’s three million members would not get pahala (divine reward) for praying because the party has rejected Islam.
Mahathir said such statements could divide the Muslim community, although Islam advocates kinship. Hence, he said Nik Aziz is merely a party leader vying for power, and not the religious leader that he is perceived to be.
“He wants to go to Putrajaya too; no problem! As we would give Anwar a room, we can give him a chair there and sit in a room,” he said.
After a pause to let the audience laugh at the apparent sexual innuendo, he continued, “Not in the same room as Anwar, separate rooms.
“We would put a thick wall in between. He is strong you know? We have to put a thick wall there,” he said.
The 87-year-old politician also urged DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang to retire from politics, noting that he has been active since 1964 and is still a DAP leader.
“Lim tells everyone to change. Yes, he should change, only then would his words have credibility.
“I have already changed, I have quit and let someone else (to be prime minister). I didn’t want to hoard everything and be prime minister until death,” he said.
Dr M: Just cross the dacing
He urged the crowd to save Selangor in the upcoming general election.
“We should come out in full force to vote for BN, don’t care who the
candidates are, don’t look at their faces, and just cross the dacing (BN logo).
“The voters should remember that it is the party that forms the government, not the candidates.”
At the press conference after the event, Mahathir also supported the idea of sending a top politician, such as Johor caretaker menteri besar Abdul Ghani Othman, to Gelang Patah to ensure Lim’s defeat in the upcoming general election.
This was despite the seat already being considered a BN stronghold.
“Of course a ‘big shot’ should fight a ‘big shot’. I think if Lim loses, that would be the end of his political career. Otherwise, he won’t stop.
“So send Ghani or whoever else to face and defeat him (there),” he said.