Pak Lah: No problems with Dr M as delegate
Published: Aug 26, 2006 7:15 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he has no qualms with his predecessor turned fiercest critic, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, attending the Umno general assembly in November as a delegate.
Premier Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said he has no qualms with his predecessor turned fiercest critic, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, attending the Umno general assembly in November as a delegate.
"Why should I have a problem? I have my duty to do whatever I am supposed to do," Abdullah told reporters after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting last night, reported the Star.
He was responding to questions about Mahathir's decision to accept nominations to contest for one of the seven delegates position for the Kubang Pasu division.
Mahathir on Wednesday said that he wants a chance to speak at the assembly to raise concerns on the running of the country, and hinted that certain parties may stop him from doing so over fears that he would launch another attack on the Abdullah Administration.
To a question, Abdullah said the onus is now on the Kedah Umno liaison committee to decide whether Mahathir should be allowed to address the assembly.
"He is eligible to be considered. We leave it to the state to decide," he said.
OSA poser
According to Bernama, Abdullah appeared astonished when told Mahathir claimed to have obtained secret documents purportedly proving that Malaysia offered to sell sand to Singapore as a package deal to build the crooked bridge to replace the Causeway to the Island state.
"He has the secret documents? How could he have obtained them?" queried Abdullah.
Asked if the government would grant Mahathir's wish for a written assurance protecting the latter from prosecution under the Official Secrets Act (OSA), Abdullah said Mahathir should not be afraid if he merely want to provide evidence.
"Why should we charge him under the OSA?" he asked adding that the government had no problems accepting evidence if any.
Presently, Mahathir has had several speaking engagement with Umno members throughout the country but claimed that many more events were cancelled under duress from those trying stop the former premier from lashing out at the government.
Should Mahathir be allowed to address the assembly in November, it would be his first since stepping down as prime minister and Umno president in Oct 2003.
"Why should I have a problem? I have my duty to do whatever I am supposed to do," Abdullah told reporters after chairing the Umno supreme council meeting last night, reported the Star.
He was responding to questions about Mahathir's decision to accept nominations to contest for one of the seven delegates position for the Kubang Pasu division. Mahathir on Wednesday said that he wants a chance to speak at the assembly to raise concerns on the running of the country, and hinted that certain parties may stop him from doing so over fears that he would launch another attack on the Abdullah Administration.
To a question, Abdullah said the onus is now on the Kedah Umno liaison committee to decide whether Mahathir should be allowed to address the assembly.
"He is eligible to be considered. We leave it to the state to decide," he said.
OSA poser
According to Bernama, Abdullah appeared astonished when told Mahathir claimed to have obtained secret documents purportedly proving that Malaysia offered to sell sand to Singapore as a package deal to build the crooked bridge to replace the Causeway to the Island state.
"He has the secret documents? How could he have obtained them?" queried Abdullah.
Asked if the government would grant Mahathir's wish for a written assurance protecting the latter from prosecution under the Official Secrets Act (OSA), Abdullah said Mahathir should not be afraid if he merely want to provide evidence.
"Why should we charge him under the OSA?" he asked adding that the government had no problems accepting evidence if any. Presently, Mahathir has had several speaking engagement with Umno members throughout the country but claimed that many more events were cancelled under duress from those trying stop the former premier from lashing out at the government.
Should Mahathir be allowed to address the assembly in November, it would be his first since stepping down as prime minister and Umno president in Oct 2003.
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