PADANG TERAP: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been accused of choosing a safe seat by contesting in Langkawi in the 14th General Election (GE14).
Education Minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid said Dr Mahathir was not confident that he would get enough support from the opposition due to their political history thus why he is taking the safest route by contesting in Langkawi.
“Those in the opposition pact doubt each other. Datin Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (PKR president) looks at Dr Mahathir as someone who has sent her husband to prison.
“So does Mohamad Sabu (Parti Amanah Negara president). He sees Dr Mahathir as someone who had once detained him under the Internal Security Act. In fact Dr Mahathir and Lim Kit Siang (DAP advisor) are also suspicious of each other.
“This is why Dr Mahathir chose a safe seat to contest,” he told reporters after opening the Sekolah Menengah Agaman Maktab Mahmud Padang Terap Excellent Award Day.
He was commenting on Dr Mahathir’s decision to choose Langkawi as the constituency he will contesting in for GE14.
On the same note, Mahdzir, who is Umno supreme council member, said Dr Mahathir’s decision to contest in Langkawi also showed that the Kubang Pasu seat was not safe for him despite being the elected representative there for 30 years from 1974 until 2004.
“Whether it is Kubang Pasu or Langkawi, it is up for him to contest but we can see that he is not confident enough to go back to Kubang Pasu,” he said.
Mahdzir hoped Barisan Nasional (BN) in Langkawi would not focus on helping the Umno candidate defend the seat.
“Wherever he contests, our stand is to help the BN candidate win in GE14.
“I am confident that BN in Langkawi can retain the seat which has been ours. No matter who is nominated to contest there, we shall win,” he said.