A case of deja vu: When Tunku was 'disgusted' with Dr M

Since declaring an open war against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, his mentor-turned-nemesis Dr Mahathir Mohamad has unleashed a slew of allegations, such as the current administration stifling the democratic process and persecuting dissidents.

The 90-year-old former prime minister has also taken his campaign to the international media as well, pouring out his dissatisfaction in a series of interviews.

Some three decades ago, a similar scene had unfolded, where Mahathir was the one being vilified along similar lines.

In an interview with the New York Times, the nation's first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra, who was then 85, had expressed his abhorrence for the fourth prime minister.

Like Mahathir, the father of independence also did not mince words when he first described his feeling as one of disappointment, but then added, ''Disappointed is not the word. Disgusted.''

Tunku was sharing his thoughts on the 1988 judicial crisis, which was one of the darkest periods during Mahathir's 22-year reign as prime minister.

''You see, the whole trouble today is, when he took over, he was trying to make sure he would stay on in power,'' charged the politician of royal descent.

According to the writer, "Throughout the interview, the prince (Tunku) was at pains to avoid calling Mahathir by name."

''He then imposed his rule of despotism or tyranny on this country, at the expense of law and order,'' Tunku continued.

''They set up a dictatorship. To be a complete dictator, you've got to take control of everything. But the judiciary is still independent.

"There's only one thing blocking his way, the independent judiciary. Now he wants to compromise that independence,'' he said.

According to the New York Times article, Tunku harboured so intense a desire to oppose Mahathir's action that a friend revealed he had told them, after suffering a heart attack, that he had two doctors to keep him alive - "my own and Dr Mahathir".

But unlike Mahathir, who is still a picture of health, Tunku's physical abilities were limited.

''Unfortunately I'm crippled, more or less, but my mind is clear,'' he told the newspaper.

"'I can't walk far, I can't see well - those are my handicaps. Otherwise I'd go everywhere. I fought for independence before. I'd say to the people as I said before - 'Fight for independence.' We've got to fight to restore democracy,'' he said.

Complaining about "serious disruptions" to press freedom, Tunku said The Star newspaper, which resumed publication after being banned the year before, refused to publish his articles

''Even my paper won't publish my articles,'' lamented the then chairperson of the publishing company.

''They want to change it. Yes, yes, the last article wasn't published. They're asking for certain amendments,'' he added.

Ironically, the New York Times article, published in July 1988, had quoted then education minister Anwar Ibrahim as dismissing Tunku's grouses and describing him as a voice of the past.

''A grand old man who has done his bit. 'But I don't know if he's even conscious of what he is saying,'' Anwar is quoted as saying.

A decade later, Mahathir would sack Anwar, who had then risen to become deputy prime minister, and accuse him of indulging in immoral sexual conduct, a charge which Anwar claims was fabricated. -Mkini