Mahathir’s reputation at stake in Pandikar case

Highly unlikely that Mahathir would say something that the Speaker didn’t tell him, says Zam

KUALA LUMPUR: Former information minister Zainuddin Maidin, defending former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, has raised the possibility of an about-turn by the Dewan Rakyat Speaker after having told Dr Mahathir he wanted to relinquish his post.

Zainuddin stressed that Pandikar must have told Mahathir that he was relinquishing his post, and pointed out that the Speaker “didn’t tell Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak. This has affected his (Najib’s) image and provided more ammunition to Mahathir.”

Zainuddin recalled what Mahathir had said before a 3,000 crowd in Ipoh on Saturday: “The Speaker has quit. He came and saw me and said that he wants to quit. He doesn’t want to continue any more. Now, his deputy has taken over his duties in the Dewan Rakyat.”

Hours later, Pandikar issued a brief statement denying that he had resigned and said that he would be in the chair when the House resumes its sitting tomorrow.

Zainuddin pointed out that it would be strange that Pandikar, “knowing that the relationship between Mahathir and Najib to be tense, should choose to tell one and not the other”.

If Pandikar had now done an about-turn, added Zainuddin, that did not mean that the Speaker had not told Mahathir the truth at their meeting.

He recounted a telephone call from a friend who asked: “Why didn’t Pandikar inform the Prime Minister?” Another friend said: “I don’t think Mahathir was lying. Pandikar changing his mind about resigning, after telling Mahathir, cannot be ruled out.”

However, if the report about Pandikar resigning was not true, then Mahathir’s reputation was also at stake.