Dr M: Beware the one who hoodwinks

The former premier warns Malaysians not to fall prey to Anwar Ibrahim as he once had in the past.

PETALING JAYA: More than a decade ago, he was considered the protege of and heir apparent to Dr Mahathir Mohamad. But in 1998, the ties turned sour. And the rest, as they say, is history.

In his latest blog posting, Mahathir claimed that he was once hoodwinked by the religious piety of Anwar Ibrahim and warned Malaysians not to fall prey as well.

Now as his nemesis leads the opposition charge for the coming general election, where for the first time in more than five decades a change of government was considered possible, the former premier once again issued a dire warning.

Targeting Anwar, he pointed out that the former deputy premier had not brought about positive changes during his tenure with the government.

“Now as leader of the opposition, he is claiming to bring about changes. What good change did he introduce when he was in the government?

“All he was interested in was getting up the leadership ladder of Umno in order to become prime minister. How he achieved his objective does not bear scrutiny,” he added.

Recalling the 1997-1998 financial crisis, Mahathir said Anwar, who was also finance minister then, had attempted the International Monetary Fund (IMF) solution without IMF loans.

“Banks and companies were faced with the threat of bankruptcy from non-performing loans. Imports cost more. Cost of living shot up.

“The track record of the minister of finance then was bad although there is a fondness of claiming success brought about by others as his success. PNB, UIA and Islamic banking were part of the claim,” he added.

Pakatan aping Obama

Mahathir warned Malaysians that experimenting with change and placing federal power in the hands of Anwar and PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang-led government would be perilous.

“Many things can be destroyed in five years. We have some experience of this,” he said, alluding to his handpicked successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, whose one term in power witnessed the opposition making significant gains in the 2008 polls.

“Besides, the opposition as government will ensure that there will be no return for BN [Barisan Nasional]. Officers in the government will be used to ‘gempar’ [threaten] whoever tries to change the government. We know this has happened before,” he said.

“Already we see this person who claims to fight for free speech suing and resorting to the courts to shut the mouths of his critics. Other powers of the government will be similarly abused. Nepotism and cronyism will be employed as indeed they are in the party he now heads.

“The record is there. Malaysians must not allow themselves to be hoodwinked as I was hoodwinked by the appearance of religious piety in the past,” he added.

Mahathir also accused Pakatan Rakyat of aping US President Barack Obama in terms of making unkept promises of change in the run-up to the elections.

“Making promises during campaigns for elections is easy. Keeping them is a different matter. The best hope is that people’s memory is short. They will normally forget the promises.

“Give them a chance, they [Pakatan] say. BN has ruled this country for 55 years. It is time to change. They will change this into a welfare state. Everything will be free. No fees for education, no tolls, large subsidy for petrol, 20% royalty to oil-producing states etc..etc,” he said.

Don’t overlook track record

“The Socialist and Communist have tried this welfare state idea. They failed. Malaysia has no ideology. But the reality is that all governments need money in order to develop the country and to
subsidise living cost for the people.

“But when government forego taxes, tolls and fees, it will have less money. But it will still have to spend money on running and maintaining utilities, expressways, schools, hospitals, operational
and development cost, pension, subsidies, etc.

“So where does the government get the necessary funds? Borrowing is okay if the money is invested and giving a return to repay the loans. But borrowing money in order to just spend will lead to non-payment of debts,” he added, citing Greece as an example.

Mahathir said BN had ruled this country ever since independence but its track record must not be overlooked.

“Compare it with other countries which gained independence at the same time. Compare it even with the developed West. They are in deep financial trouble and try as they might, they have not been able to overcome the crisis.

“BN has listened to the people and changed many laws and policies. All that the people need to do is to urge BN to carry out whatever change the people desire. But changing the government can and will result in this country becoming unstable and unable to grow,” he added.