Mahathir should have attracted 100k rally-goers, says minister

As a former prime minister, Dr Mahathir Mohamad should have attracted at least 100,000 rally-goers.

Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Abdul Aziz’s said this in response to the anti-Goods and Services Tax (GST) held last Saturday which attracted some 2,000 participants.

Nevertheless, Nazri noted how Mahathir is now the one who encourages people to attend demonstrations, when he did not allow them to take to the streets when he was prime minister.

“I think he has missed something when he was prime minister, he realised that it was a big mistake. What he has missed, or didn't allow to do when he was prime minister - he must be regretting now,” he told a press conference in Shah Alam today.

Pointing out how he had tabled the Peaceful Assembly Act (PAA) in Parliament as law minister then, Nazri said Mahathir probably realised that he should have done the same during his time as prime minister.

“The fact that he's joining demonstrations and all that; he's embracing peaceful assembly, which even then, he didn't allow.

“Now you just mention that there will be a demonstration next week, he will come for sure. It means that he's regretting what he didn't do in the past, now he's admitting that it was big mistake on his part,” he said.

[More to follow]

-Mkini