AGAIN Dr M hammers Badawi: I’d have picked a different successor

PUTRAJAYA- Former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has yet again expressed regret over his choice of successor.

Stressing that many changes have taken place in the country after his tenure of 22 years as the prime minister, Mahathir said he would want to do things differently given the chance.

“Would I do anything differently? Yes, I would choose a different successor ... after that I would resign,” he said, in reference to Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, under whom Barisan Nasional lost its two-thirds majority in 2008.

The former premier was responding to a question from the audience during a luncheon talk at the 2012 National Digital Seminar here today.

He was asked what he would have done differently after seeing the changes in this country since he stepped down, and the direction the country is heading to.

Subtly continuing his attacks on the changes in policies, Mahathir said one of the ways to progress and correct the mistakes made is by “accepting” the mistakes done.

Citing examples of how some developed countries are now still recovering from the economic crisis, he said: “The great countries of the world have not been able to overcome their financial crises since 2008 because they are in a state of denial.

“When you refuse to accept that you were wrong, then you cannot correct your mistakes.”

Commenting on the current development and changes, Mahathir said the Malaysian community has become more “selfish” and race-centric today.

“I am conscious of the fact that the present generation is living quite differently from the generation before me or the generation that lived with me.

“Before, we were quite poor and felt pressure from the countries outside, but we were more solid and united and were able to withstand the pressures,” he said.

Mahathir said today’s generation do not feel the “pressures” from outside due to the progress of the nation, thus they do not feel the need to unite.

“Because you think only of yourself and not whole community, you may have conflict among you,” he added.

Mahathir said the government should address the weaknesses of a multiracial composition, where one race can continually make demands from another.

“Pardon me for saying this: We are much more conscious about race today than ever before. This shouldn’t be. As we progress and mature as a nation, we should talk less and less about race,” he said.

-thesundaily