Veterans group pledges protection for Mahathir

PETALING JAYA: A veterans group today pledged its protection for former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad following the government’s decision to withdraw his personal bodyguard service.

In a statement today, the National Association of Patriots (PPK) said it was firmly committed to ensuring that no physical harm befalls the veteran statesman at any time.

It also called on all who claimed to be patriots to make a similar commitment.

“One cannot be a ‘patriot’ of this nation if he or she becomes indifferent to national leaders who had served the people, nation, and the rulers of Malaysia.

“Should anything untoward happen (God forbid) to the personal wellbeing of Mahathir, the members of PPK will put full blame upon the national leadership and the guardians of law and order, and will demand an investigation to expose the failure of the government of the day,” the group’s president Brig Gen (Rtd) Mohamed Arshad Raji said.

On Wednesday, Mahathir said the personal bodyguard service provided by the police Special Action Unit for his protection had been withdrawn.

This came a year after Putrajaya ended the contract of his cook and office assistant.

Last year, Mahathir’s police outriders were also withdrawn after his privileges were revoked following his attendance at anti-government events.

Mahathir, who led the country from 1981 to 2003, was Malaysia’s longest-serving prime minister. He quit Umno last year and is now chairman of opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan.

Mohamed Arshad said the decision to withdraw Mahathir’s personal bodyguard service was “amateurish, irresponsible, undignified and outright demeaning”.

“I do not think Malaysians who are patriotic would want to see their respected and deeply appreciated former national leader, who is leading a call for a better Malaysia, be threatened and harmed in his highly spirited desire for an ultimate change in the current national leadership.

“Leaders of the world had held him in high regard, and Malaysia was once held in high esteem during his leadership. During the 1998 world recession, which sparked from the Southeast Asian contagion, it was Mahathir’s decisive action that saved our economy.

“Regardless of what he is today, a man who is so outrightly opposed to the present ruling government for reasons we all know, he certainly does not deserve such an unprincipled treatment by the government.”

Pointing out that other services had also been withdrawn, Mohamed Arshad asked what else would be taken away. FMT