Dr M: Kit Siang and DAP not communist
Zulaikha ZulkifliPublished: Feb 9, 2015 6:00 AM | Updated: Feb 9, 2015 9:06 AM
The political enmity between Lim Kit Siang and Dr Mahathir Mohamad has spanned for decades and the exchanges have been nothing short of vitriolic.
However, the former premier is convinced about one thing - that the DAP strongman is not a communist.
The political enmity between Lim Kit Siang and Dr Mahathir Mohamad has spanned for decades and the exchanges have been nothing short of vitriolic.
However, the former premier is convinced about one thing - that the DAP strongman is not a communist.
Instead, Mahathir described Lim as "authoritarian", which ironically is the same charge often hurled at the former premier.
He also spoke on how DAP has a family legacy at the leadership level.
"I don’t see DAP as communists. Just that their idea on how to administer the country is not good for the nation.
"I also don't see Lim as a communist, he is more inclined to be an authoritarian and appears to want his son (Guan Eng) to replace him.
"I don't believe in this system where family is more (important) than the country," said Mahathir, who himself is accused of attempting to engineer his son Mukhriz's political ascension.
The former premier was asked how he could foster ties with Cuba but not work with Lim during an event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Malaysian-Cuban ties.
US human rights record is worse
In his speech earlier, Mahathir said eventhough Cuba is a communist country and has a different approach to governance, there was no obstacles towards collaboration between the two countries.
"I don't think society should interfere with the affairs of others. For Malaysia, we mind our own business because Cuba has never tried to undermine Malaysia or spread communist ideologies," he said.
On the other hand, he claimed that the United States was actively trying to oppress Cuba through various means, including making human rights arguments despite the practice of detention without trial in Guantanamo Bay.
Mahathir then jokingly said that detention without trial happened during his reign as prime minister as well, but on a serious note stated that what the United States - detentions for up to 12 years and torture - was doing was far worse.
"But their record is not very good either. Recently... their own people confirmed that (the United States) practices torture (in Guantanamo Bay). I don't know if that is in line with human rights.
"I'm not anti-America. I like their country. But... Your human rights record is bad," said Mahathir.
However, the former premier is convinced about one thing - that the DAP strongman is not a communist.
Instead, Mahathir described Lim as "authoritarian", which ironically is the same charge often hurled at the former premier.
He also spoke on how DAP has a family legacy at the leadership level.
"I don’t see DAP as communists. Just that their idea on how to administer the country is not good for the nation."I also don't see Lim as a communist, he is more inclined to be an authoritarian and appears to want his son (Guan Eng) to replace him.
"I don't believe in this system where family is more (important) than the country," said Mahathir, who himself is accused of attempting to engineer his son Mukhriz's political ascension.
The former premier was asked how he could foster ties with Cuba but not work with Lim during an event to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Malaysian-Cuban ties.
US human rights record is worse
In his speech earlier, Mahathir said eventhough Cuba is a communist country and has a different approach to governance, there was no obstacles towards collaboration between the two countries.
"I don't think society should interfere with the affairs of others. For Malaysia, we mind our own business because Cuba has never tried to undermine Malaysia or spread communist ideologies," he said.
On the other hand, he claimed that the United States was actively trying to oppress Cuba through various means, including making human rights arguments despite the practice of detention without trial in Guantanamo Bay.Mahathir then jokingly said that detention without trial happened during his reign as prime minister as well, but on a serious note stated that what the United States - detentions for up to 12 years and torture - was doing was far worse.
"But their record is not very good either. Recently... their own people confirmed that (the United States) practices torture (in Guantanamo Bay). I don't know if that is in line with human rights.
"I'm not anti-America. I like their country. But... Your human rights record is bad," said Mahathir.
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