Dr M: Only a dictatorship would ask pupils to raise party flags

Only a dictatorship would ask pupils to raise the ruling party's flags and sing the party's song, said former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He was asked to comment on an Umno-themed decoration contest and play at SK Putrajaya Presint 14 (1), which saw students chanting "Hidup Umno" (Long live Umno) and waving flags of the party.

"I once visited a country where the people must support the top leader, it is a country which practised dictatorship," he said when met at the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia's (Bersatu) headquarters.

"There is a cult of personality in the dictatorship system, where people must support the leader even though he is a thug, a robber and a thief," said the Bersatu chairperson. 

"They ask the people to praise the leader, sing the song of the leader. Such practice has spread to Malaysia under the leadership of prime minister Najib Abdul Razak," he added.

"That's why, (the students) were asked to lie to themselves from childhood, this is the way of the dictatorship," he said.

Mahathir said he never did such a thing during his 22 years tenure as Umno president and prime minister.

The event at the primary school was organised by the Federal Territories (FT) Ministry, the Putrajaya Education Department, Putrajaya Umno division education bureau and two other NGOs.

"The government cannot take sides and support any political party, including the ruling party. We cannot use the government tools for the interest of the party.

"This is wrong. What we have now is a government that does not follow the rule of law. I believe the people realise there was an abuse of power by the government," he said.

The incident, he believes, will boost votes for the opposition in the coming general election.

"They are bankrupt, they just don't know what else to do. They are afraid, so they have to do all the wrong thing," he said. 

When asked about the chances of him contesting in Putrajaya, he simply said," I may, tell them I may".

In an interview with Malaysiakini, Mahathir had said he would contest in Langkawi or Putrajaya if he was forced to.

"Well, at the moment, of course, I am head of Langkawi branch of Bersatu, I think I can go there or I can go to Putrajaya. These two can," he had said then.- Mkini