INTERVIEW | Dr Mahathir Mohamad was once labelled ‘dictator’ by critics who fought and failed to oust him as prime minister at the time.
Fifteen years later, he is plotting to make his comeback as prime minister, but this time as the leader of opposition front Pakatan Harapan.
But even if Harapan succeeds in capturing Putrajaya after next Wednesday’s polls, Mahathir does not foresee caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak handing over the reins in a "gentlemanly" manner.
"This is what we fear... He (Najib) is trying somehow or other to avoid being arrested.
"There is a rumour, and this is a rumour, I have heard it... that Umno will create trouble.
"They have thugs who will create trouble and there will be a state of emergency or a state of national security, then Parliament will not be called, and the rule of law will be suspended," he told Malaysiakini in an interview.
Mahathir argues that Najib (photo) could take such drastic actions through enforcing the National Security Council Act 2016, itself passed to replace the Internal Security Act 1960 enforced during the former premier’s 22-year tenure.
"Under the new NSC he can arrest anybody without trial. And if the person dies, no inquest.
"This is the most terrible law. By comparison with the ISA, this is worst. And yet he was praised for getting rid of the ISA," he said.
Mahathir also pointed out that the NSC, like more recent controversial laws such as the Anti-Fake News Act 2018, was passed by the Dewan Rakyat with minimal debate.
The NSC was enacted to provide for the establishment of the National Security Council, the declaration of security areas and special powers for the security forces, and other related matters.
At the time of its enactment, the government said the law was intended to strengthen the country’s ability to face increasing security threats, including threats of violent extremism.
'Dictatorship unsustainable without military support'
When pressed whether Harapan had a plan to counter Najib's purported stranglehold of federal power, Mahathir recounted how former Philippines president, the late Ferdinand Marcos, had placed the country under martial law rule in 1972.
According to Mahathir, Marcos was supported by the Philippines' Armed Forces vice-chief Fidel Ramos and its defence secretary Juan Ponce Enrile, up until the dictator was implicated in the assassination of his longtime opponent Benigno Aquino Jr.
"So at this moment (in Malaysia), the head of police – I don’t think it is the whole police force – and also the head of armed forces, they are still supporting him (Najib).
"But when he breaks the law by misapplying this law (NSC) that he has enacted, I think they will not support him anymore," he said.
"When they do not support him, he will fall. He can only sustain a military government or an emergency government if he is supported by the police and the armed forces.
"But I think and I hope the police, and the country's most senior men, will not support this attempt to install a dictatorship in this country," he added.
Mahathir has previously expressed hope that members of the armed forces would vote in the May 9 polls freely and without "restraint" from any quarters.
He stated this in a letter dated April 30 addressed to the chiefs of Army, Navy and Air Force.
Since then, Navy chief Ahmad Kamarulzaman Ahmad Badaruddin urged his personnel to vote wisely and not let the “golden opportunity” go to waste.
Inspector-general of police Mohamad Fuzi Harun also assured that police personnel have the right to cast their ballots for the party of their choice. -Mkini
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