What else can we do, asks Mahathir on reforms

Former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said that the Umno-led Barisan Nasional government has done much to prove that it is committed to reforms.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the international forum on conflict and conciliation at the Putra World Trade Centre, he said the reforms are far-ranging and go beyond things Umno would have ever done.

“What reforms? ISA (Internal Security Act) has been taken out....we have been asked to support all sort of things which we never supported before and we have.

“Once you could not even have lion and dragon dance, it wasn't allowed. Now we even give money to churches etc... what more reforms do you want?” he said when asked if there is a need for reforms to be accelerated.

He quipped that if people are clamouring for even greater reforms, then he will “convey it to the prime minister and he will immediately do it”.

Mahathir had taken questions from the press after addressing the conference held in conjunction with the Umno annual general assembly, which begins tomorrow.

'Inclusive enough'

The former longest-serving Umno president also said that Umno could not be any more inclusive as it had accepted many other parties to form the BN.

“We accepted MCA, MIC, then Sabah and Sarawak parties and then Gerakan, Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) and PAS. We asked the DAP to join but they said 'oh no, we can't, we are opposition', so how much more inclusive (can we be)?” he asked.

Meanwhile, on disenchanted youth voters, particularly among the non-Malays, Mahathir said that youths have a penchant for idealism but the fact is the Malaysian government has done “more than other countries” in accommodating the young.

Unlike in the Arab Spring nations where educated youths took to the streets due to poor future prospects, he said, Malaysian youths are given all sorts of opportunities and training.

“(Non-Malay youths) are not sidelined but do not want to participate. When we do something they don't want to join,” he said.