Dr M asks if opposition will sanction ‘executions without trial’

Dr Mahathir said those in the opposition have been the ones concerned that Malaysia should respect human rights and the principles of justice. – File pic

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 23 – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has suggested that those deemed enemies of the state could be executed without trial under the opposition’s rule, citing its support of the United States’s brand of liberal policies despite opposing the now-repealed Internal Security Act (ISA).

The former prime minister, writing in his blog yesterday, pointed out that while opposition leaders have expressed very strong views on the element of detention without trial under the ISA, they have yet to comment on how the US purportedly executes any person considered a terrorist, without trying him in court.

“I wonder what Malaysians who object to detention without trial think of execution without trial. So far, they have not commented on this issue,” the veteran politician wrote.

“Maybe they think killing without trial is not as bad as detention without trial. Maybe this is what they would do if they govern this country. I wonder,” he added.

Dr Mahathir’s latest posting appears to be a veiled attempt by the country’s longest serving prime minister to campaign for Barisan Nasional (BN) ahead of the coming Election 2013, which must be held by June.

The outspoken leader, who is said to still wield strong influence in BN lynchpin Umno, has been going on a stump for BN in recent months, often advising Malaysians in his speeches, blog or during press conferences, against changing the government.

Dr Mahathir has also been campaigning on behalf of BN for the conservative Malay vote, repeatedly warning that a split in the race could see the country’s dominant ethnic group lose political power to the non-Malays.

But in his latest tirade today, Dr Mahathir was careful not to single out personalities or even name the Pakatan Rakyat (PR) pact when suggesting that a new government could advocate the arbitrary killing those they feel are a threat to national security.

Earlier in the article, however, he had pointed out that it was the opposition that has been particularly strong on pushing for the abolition of the ISA as it permits detention without trial.

Dr Mahathir also said those in the opposition have been the ones concerned that Malaysia should respect human rights and the principles of justice.

The Najib administration repealed the 1960 British-enacted anti-Communist insurgency Act in September 2011, saying the move was part of the government’s promise to widen civil liberties here.

“They (opposition) believe that we should accept the liberal views of the great western civilisations particularly the United States of America,” he pointed out.

But Dr Mahathir reminded the opposition that in the US, those classified as terrorists are killed without trial.

“According to the US, the person need not be told of his classification as a terrorist. He need not be charged in a court of law. He can be taken out i.e. executed by the agents of the US,” he said.

Dr Mahathir added that generally in the US, those classified as terrorists are the Muslims, and once determined a terrorist, this individual is considered an imminent threat to the US and it is therefore justified to kill him.

He cited an incident in 2011 when an American citizen of Yemeni origin with weapons mounted on a drone flying in Yemeni airspace. Many other US citizens have been killed in similar fashion - without trial, he added, including in foreign countries.

Dr Mahathir said the governments in these foreign nations may or may not even be aware of these killings as should the US government decide that these targeted individuals are terrorists, no permission is needed for the killing.

“The US has the right to violate their air space, their sovereignty and send their drones or unmanned aerial vehicles to kill the person concerned.

“In the process other people, innocent people, will also be killed. That’s too bad. They are collaterals,” he wrote.

Dr Mahathir has often warned that the US government and Israel have been conspiring to affect a regime change in Malaysia through a “puppet government” to be led by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, his former deputy who currently leaders PR.