PEOPLE’S CONGRESS: OPPOSITION LEADERS FORGIVE DR MAHATHIR

(The Star) – Opposition leaders, who were jailed during Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s 22-year-era, said they hold no grudges against the former prime minister.

Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Mohamad Sabu, also known as Mat Sabu, said there was no need to hold on to the past although he was detained under the then Internal Security Act (ISA).

“I was arrested twice under ISA during Tun Mahathir’s time. But this is not about avenging the past.

“Should I be hitting out at a retired prime minister when I should be hitting out at the current leadership?” he said in his speech at “Save Malaysia” congress here Sunday.

Dr Mahathir, who was present at the event, was seen smiling upon hearing the remark.

Mat Sabu was among 119 people detained under the 1987 Ops Lalang.

Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said they had been through an oppressive system.

Azmin claimed he was one of those arrested and “beaten up” by six policemen during the reformasi(reformation) era in 1998.

“Back then, the Home Minister was Tun Dr Mahathir.

“But that’s okay because it had taught me and other leaders what it means to become a fighter,” he said.

Azmin, who is PKR deputy president, said that history had also taught him to be a better person.

“I want to be a better person, not a bitter person. And a better person will take a positive action for the future.

“We need to restore the confidence of the people back in the system,” he said.

Azmin said the “Save Malaysia” movement is united, regardless of their political ideologies, to call for Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s resignation as Prime Minister.