Mahathir's 'violent' views
Steven GanDiterbitkan: Feb 18, 2001 1:54 AM | Dikemas kini: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
He said it before. Yesterday, he said it again. Expect the opposition to run amok, caretaker Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad warned. Indeed, he reiterated his predictions -- the third time in five days -- at a meeting with local media editors who were summoned for an election pep talk at his spanking new office in Putrajaya.
He blamed the spectre of violence on the presence of two individuals, both of whom he said were responsible for instigating students to demonstrate against the government in 1974. One "person" was then not in government (read: Anwar Ibrahim, former prime-minister in waiting), and the other was "the person's loyal supporter", who went into exile after the student crackdown, and has since returned home (read: Hishamudin Rais, ex-student leader).
Mahathir did not stop there. He went on to point out exactly when he expected violence to erupt. According to him, it would happen a few days before polling. The reasons? Because by then the opposition would have realised that they "have a slim chance to win" the elections.
Such talk of violence during the elections is not new. At the 1995 elections, Barisan Nasional leaders had persistently warned that May 13-style riots would break out if the Government failed to win power. Their aim was clear: to spook voters into backing BN. No wonder Mahathir is using such true and tried formula to sow fear among Malaysians.
His incendiary views are clearly being parroted by others in the BN coalition. For example, Deputy Home Minister Ong Ka Ting also alluded to possible violence yesterday. Indeed those who speak darkly of possible trouble are exclusively from one side of the political fence.
The Opposition has no track record of going into a rampage whenever they lose, and they've lost in the past nine elections. After all, the people who rioted in most of the reformasi demonstrations over the past year were those in uniform. The only time trouble erupted was in 1969 -- and that was when the Opposition "won" by denying the government its two-thirds majority in Parliament. Charges have been made recently by the Opposition that it was the "losing" side which started the violence.
The fear is that such "violent" warnings can turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy. Barisan Alternatif leaders have expressed concern that if indeed there is violence, it is more likely to be initiated by those linked to BN. And when that happens, the Opposition will be blamed. Already, last Saturday night, three pro-reformasi supporters were beaten by a dozen or so BN youth in Petaling Jaya. The victims have since lodged a police report.
Another police report was filed today by 18 concerned citizens. This time the target is none other than the caretaker Prime Minister. They want Mahathir to stop giving unsolicited predictions on poll violence. Yes, let the election campaign and the political debate begin. Threats of violence, however, have no place in a democracy.
He blamed the spectre of violence on the presence of two individuals, both of whom he said were responsible for instigating students to demonstrate against the government in 1974. One "person" was then not in government (read: Anwar Ibrahim, former prime-minister in waiting), and the other was "the person's loyal supporter", who went into exile after the student crackdown, and has since returned home (read: Hishamudin Rais, ex-student leader).
Mahathir did not stop there. He went on to point out exactly when he expected violence to erupt. According to him, it would happen a few days before polling. The reasons? Because by then the opposition would have realised that they "have a slim chance to win" the elections.
Such talk of violence during the elections is not new. At the 1995 elections, Barisan Nasional leaders had persistently warned that May 13-style riots would break out if the Government failed to win power. Their aim was clear: to spook voters into backing BN. No wonder Mahathir is using such true and tried formula to sow fear among Malaysians.
His incendiary views are clearly being parroted by others in the BN coalition. For example, Deputy Home Minister Ong Ka Ting also alluded to possible violence yesterday. Indeed those who speak darkly of possible trouble are exclusively from one side of the political fence.
The Opposition has no track record of going into a rampage whenever they lose, and they've lost in the past nine elections. After all, the people who rioted in most of the reformasi demonstrations over the past year were those in uniform. The only time trouble erupted was in 1969 -- and that was when the Opposition "won" by denying the government its two-thirds majority in Parliament. Charges have been made recently by the Opposition that it was the "losing" side which started the violence.
The fear is that such "violent" warnings can turn into a self-fulfilling prophecy. Barisan Alternatif leaders have expressed concern that if indeed there is violence, it is more likely to be initiated by those linked to BN. And when that happens, the Opposition will be blamed. Already, last Saturday night, three pro-reformasi supporters were beaten by a dozen or so BN youth in Petaling Jaya. The victims have since lodged a police report.
Another police report was filed today by 18 concerned citizens. This time the target is none other than the caretaker Prime Minister. They want Mahathir to stop giving unsolicited predictions on poll violence. Yes, let the election campaign and the political debate begin. Threats of violence, however, have no place in a democracy.
