SUNGAI PETANI: Former Premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been asked to apologise following an open letter he wrote to the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM) and the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM), deemed as tarnishing the dignity of ATM veterans.
Malaysian Commando Veterans Club president Sani Othman said on behalf of several ATM veterans associations, they are contemplating lodging a police report if the letter is proven to have come from the Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman.
Sani also urged the police to investigate the letter, claiming the contents sounded like a threat.
He added that Dr Mahathir's action had dropped the image of security forces, especially since the country has always practiced a free and transparent right to vote for its citizens.
"The government has never forced (army veterans) to vote for a certain political party or for the ruling coalition.
"ATM members have always been given the right to cast their votes. There has never been an incident where any member was denied this right. They are also free to choose who to vote for," he told reporters at a press conference here, today.
Sani was commenting on a letter dated April 25, 2018, allegedly written by Dr Mahathir, addressed to the ATM and PDRM, leading up to the 14th General Election (GE14).
Speaking further, Sani said those who have served during Dr Mahathir's era can see the difference in terms of their wellbeing in comparison to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's era.
"Why are you looking to ATM members now and not then? Especially those who died and were injured during the confrontation with the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM)?
"Dr Mahathir at that time did not appreciate them by giving a raise or incentives so the lives of those (who were injured) are at par with the situation now," he added.
On that note, Sani said he was speaking on behalf of ATM veterans in calling for Dr Mahathir to apologise.
NSTP yesterday reported that the right to vote freely for every ATM and PDRM member is guaranteed and the government has never denied them their right.
The open letter, uploaded on Dr Mahathir’s Facebook page, was aimed at security forces nationwide.