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Dr M joins rally to call for Najib’s resignation

KUALA LUMPUR — Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the man who staunchly opposed public demonstrations during his 22 years in power, yesterday took part in a mass anti-government rally demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Former Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad said at the Bersih 4 rally in Kuala Lumpur that the people must show ‘people’s power’. Photo: REUTERS

Former Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad said at the Bersih 4 rally in Kuala Lumpur that the people must show ‘people’s power’. Photo: REUTERS

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KUALA LUMPUR — Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the man who staunchly opposed public demonstrations during his 22 years in power, yesterday took part in a mass anti-government rally demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Najib Razak.

The former prime minister said the sole purpose of his appearance at the Bersih 4 rally was to join Malaysians in calling for Mr Najib to step down, adding that he did not care about the other demands by the rally’s organiser, electoral reform group Bersih 2.0.

“I just want Najib to step down,” he told reporters when approached during the rally.

Tens of thousands of people gathered in Kuala Lumpur over the weekend to press for clean elections, a clean government, the right to dissent, strengthening parliamentary democracy, and saving the economy.

Dr Mahathir, like many other Malaysians at the rally, blames Mr Najib and his Cabinet for the country’s economic and political problems. He has been a vocal critic of Mr Najib, especially over the debt-riddled 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

“The only way to return rule of law is to remove this prime minister, and to remove him, the people must show people’s power,” Dr Mahathir said.

“We should move a motion of no confidence in Parliament,” he added.

Dr Mahathir said several lawmakers from the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) were planning to move a motion of no confidence against Mr Najib. He encouraged constituents to urge their Members of Parliament to support the motion or risk losing votes in the next general election.

The former premier is known to have strongly opposed public shows of dissent during his tenure from 1981 to 2003, and his appearance at the Bersih 4 rally raised many eyebrows. He drew criticism after dropping in on the rally on its first day on Saturday.

Earlier yesterday, UMNO vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein said Dr Mahathir had “crossed the line” with his attendance at the gathering, which had been declared by the police as illegal. Mr Hishammuddin said Dr Mahathir’s presence there was contrary to a statement he made in 1998, that street demonstrations should not be supported.

“I feel he has violated the principle of struggle he had adhered to all this while. His action has gone against the values he had promulgated when he was prime minister,” said Mr Hishammuddin, who is also Defence Minister.

Seeking to justify his attendance at the rally, Dr Mahathir said there was no need to hold street demonstrations in the past as the authorities would act based on police reports. However, Mr Najib’s administration would not allow action to be taken, he said.

“If the government does not care about the law, then we have to use demonstrations,” he told reporters. “It is the last option. When (former Philippines President Ferdinand) Marcos ruled, they had to overthrow him through demonstrations.” AGENCIES

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