Ever since Tun Dr Mahathir became Malaysia’s prime minister for the second time, many have been praising him for being so quick in his reforms, and also for being so humble when he admitted to the mistakes he committed in the past. Many will agree that he is here to bring change, but there are some who believe that he is the same man as he was 36 years ago.
Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah, or more popularly known as Ku Li, recently said that Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has not changed since his former days as prime minister in the 1980s.
According to Malay Mail, the Kelantan Prince added that Dr Mahathir is merely wearing a “different T-shirt” but still remains the same man. Do you agree with Ku Li, or nah?
Source: Malay Mail
“He was like that 23 years ago, he was like that 22 years ago, I think he is like that now,” he said at a news conference yesterday (June 10).
“He’s no longer a dictator? Just see the line-up of the party that was born only a few years ago, but heads the government in Kedah, Perak, Johor and elsewhere, and see the number of seats they have in cabinet.”
Dr Mahathir’s Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) had won 13 parliamentary seats in GE14 where four of its top leaders are currently federal ministers, while three others are mentris besar in Kedah, Perak and Johor.
“He (Dr Mahathir) is the same but wearing a different shirt, the old shirt has worn out,” Ku Li added.
Meanwhile, Ku Li disclosed that he might contest for the Umno presidency in the June 30 party election.
“It is not 50/50 lah. If they (the grassroots) asked me to jump, then I will jump.”
“There are so many young and talented people, who are better educated and better exposed. We must allow these young people to lead,” he said.
Source: Bacalah Malaysia
He also added that Umno will redeem themselves from their lost against Pakatan Harapan (PH) and will come back as a stronger organisation, reported Free Malaysia Today.
He said that the party acknowledges their defeat and apologises for all the failings and mistakes they have committed in the past.
“We really sincerely apologise (to the rakyat). If they think we have wronged them we apologise as a party,” he said.
Source: Sinar Harian
“No matter what happens, we accept the fact that we lost the election. It means the people have made the decision and they already elected a new government and we from Umno will give our cooperation. However, such support was conditional upon the new government following the constitution. And we will stand by that.”
When asked if his apology includes the mistakes made regarding the 1MDB scandal and whether it also includes former prime minister, Najib Razak, he reiterated, “I apologise for all the mistakes we have made.”
Do you agree with Ku Li in saying that Dr Mahathir is still the same man, just that he’s wearing a “different T-shirt” now? Or do you think he is a reformed man who wants to undo things of the past? Let us know in the comments below!
Also read: Dr M Says Malaysia Will Be As Successful As Japan If We Have a Sense of Shame
