REALLY? I only gave instructions to do LEGAL things - Mahathir

KOTA KINABALU - Former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said he had only given instructions to do things in accordance with the law during his tenure as prime minister from 1981 to 2003.

"I have never given instructions to do illegal things. I have only given instructions to do legal things," he said when met by reporters after testifying before the Royal Commission of Inquiry to investigate the problem of illegal immigrants in Sabah, here, today.

Many quarters have claimed the issuance of identity cards (ICs) to illegal immigrants in the state during the 1980s was instigated by Dr Mahathir, a claim he denied during the inquiry chaired by former chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Steve Shim Lip Kiong.

Dr Mahathir reiterated, "People who qualify to become citizens (of Malaysia) can become citizens."

In the proceeding, he was relieved to be able to answer all the questions posed to him.

"The proceeding went well. All the questions were reasonable," he said.

Bernama