‘Mahathir was too secretive’ - Anwar

When testifying before the royal commission of inquiry on immigrants in Sabah, opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said his former boss Dr Mahathir Mohamad was too secretive and he did not know about Project IC.

Anwar said when he was serving as deputy prime minister under Mahathir, he was never invited to attend meeting with the National Security Council (NSC).

Even when he was the acting prime minister, Anwar told the RCI panellists led by former Sabah and Sarawak chief judge Steve Shim, that he had never been briefed or signed any documents relating to Project IC.

“I challenge anyone especially those in Umno who alleged that I had signed documents regarding the project to come forward.

This matter was never discussed during my tenure in the government before this – in the government without political directive from Prime Minister (Mahathir) the giving out of IC could not have happened,” the Permatang Pauh Member of Parliament stressed.

The IC giveaway in masses also occurred in other states beside Sabah, added Anwar.

Anwar suggested to RCI to tighten the enforcement system as it not only affecting national security but also the outcome of the next election.

The PKR de facto leader also said that the mass granting of citizenship to foreigners in Sabah was not solely Mahathir’s fault.

He said the system has been in existence before Mahathir took over as prime minister and is still alive and kicking today.

Last week, Mahathir who testified before the RCI, insisted that he only knew about Project IC recently from media.

The 88-year-old leader also asked why Anwar did not stop it if Project IC was part of his government policy.

“Is he going to lie to the commission and claim that I ask him to do all these? He should know, he was my deputy (Anwar),” chided Mahathir.

True to Mahathir’s prediction, Anwar did not.

However, his former deputy said it would be hard to believe Mahathir’s ignorance on Project IC.

“If you’re talking about 200 or 5,000 people (illegals) coming into a town, I can accept. But if you see over 100,000 people coming (into Sabah) and you say you are not aware, you are just completely incompetent, irresponsible or complicit to it,” said Anwar.

Harakahdaily