KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should be last person to talk about democracy or freedom said MIC treasurer-general Datuk Seri S. Vell Paari
He was referring to Dr Mahathir’s remarks against UMNO Youth Vice Chief Senator Khairul Azwan Harun over his police report against the former premier for trying to overthrow a democratically elected government
“Dr. Mahathir is now talking about democracy and freedom. But Malaysia was denied democracy and freedom when he was in power”.
Vell Paari said in 2014, Dr. Mahathir was quoted as saying that: Freedom of speech, a free press, the democratic rights to demonstrate and strike must be circumscribed to protect the country as a democracy
“Now as usual Dr. Mahathir is making a U - Turn and flip - flopping by saying that it is part of democracy to "overthrow" a government,” he said in a statement today.
Vell Paari said perhaps Dr. Mahathir had forgotten that during his time if anyone dared to speak up against him on any scandals they were conveniently caught and locked up or put in Kamunting under ISA. Ops Lalang was a classic example.
“For Dr. Mahathir’s period of Prime Ministership I would suggest a new word for the English Language called Democrazy as the opposite to Democracy.”
“During Dr. Mahathir's time, it was not that we enjoyed democracy but most Malaysians suffered from "democrazy" policies where we were led by a dictator who did whatever that he wanted his way without thinking about the well being of the rakyat.”
Vell Paari said for the opposition to nominate Dr. Mahathir now as their Prime Ministerial candidate, it puches Malaysia back to the dark days of a “democrazy” dictator who had destroyed Malaysian democracy, judiciary and its monarchy system.