We were not free to criticise 'iron-fisted' Dr M, KJ says

UMNO AGM | As Umno and BN battle against former leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad by dredging up his past, critics have questioned why nothing was said when the nonagenarian was still in power.

The answer, Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin said, is that there was no freedom to speak out against the "iron-fisted" leader then.

"Some ask why we were quiet in the past, why didn't we say anything?

"The answer is simple, in the past, there was no freedom to speak out in or out of the party.

"Critical newspapers were shut down, political critics were arrested and thrown in jail under Ops Lalang," Khairy said today.

Speaking at the annual Umno Youth general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre, he also cited the Memali incident, the stifling of judicial powers, the use of the Internal Security Act 1960, and the introduction of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 as further proof of Mahathir's efforts to quash dissent.

"In the party, government, and country, there was a culture of fear.

"(He ruled with an) iron fist. But now he speaks as though he is free from sin and we are the cruel dictators," he said.

His speech centred around dispelling the nostalgia surrounding Mahathir, who now leads the main opposition group Pakatan Harapan.- Mkini