Dr M to see if PN 'protect crooks' before deciding on meet with Muhyiddin

Several weeks after Pakatan Harapan's downfall, former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad has indicated that he would observe the new government's performance before deciding whether to accept Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin's request for a meeting.

In an interview with Indonesia's news magazine Tempo, Mahathir alluded to the corruption trials against several Umno leaders, stressing that his focus is on whether the new Perikatan Nasional (PN) pact would "protect crooks" who are now its allies in the government.

"If, for instance, there is (executive) interference in the judicial process, then I will not meet him (Muhyiddin)," said Mahathir in the interview held at his office in Putrajaya last week.

Faced with 47 corruption-linked charges, Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had previously dismissed rumours that his case would be dropped and instead, vowed to fight on in court to clear his name.

A senior Bersatu leader previously revealed that Muhyiddin had requested to meet with Mahathir after a rift over the prime minister's post divided the party into two camps.

The situation saw Mahathir refusing to be with the group of Bersatu leaders who, together with Muhyiddin, agreed to cooperate with Umno and its new allies in the PN pact.

In an initial response to Muhyiddin, Mahathir previously said he is only willing to accept the request to meet if the Bersatu president rids his ranks of "corrupt Umno people".

Quizzed on his statement on Muhyiddin's alleged betrayal of their cooperation, Mahathir conceded he would continue to support the policies which he had introduced in his 22 months as the seventh prime minister.

"If the policies are accepted and continued by Muhyiddin's administration, that is more important than my own fate," said Mahathir, who noted that his previous successors while leading a BN government - former premiers Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib Razak - had introduced changes which led to the country's downfall.

"This time, I hope that they will not make any policy changes and continue our (Harapan's) plan to rebuild the nation, economy and other matters.

"What more at a time when we are facing global economic recession and the Covid-19 (pandemic)," he said.

Since PN took over federal power, International Trade and Industries Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali had reiterated the government's commitment to continue with the Shared Prosperity 2030 Vision which he first announced as Economic Affairs minister under the previous Harapan administration.

Calls have however been made from within PN's ranks for the new government to reconsider other reforms proposed by Harapan, including the setting up of an Independent Police Complaints and Misconduct Commission (IPCMC). - Mkini