An Amanah leader has hit back at Prime Minister Najib Razak for blaming the notorious crackdown Operation Lalang on then premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, asking why he hadn't protested it at the time.
“What is clear is, everyone knows (Najib) has never said he didn't agree (with the crackdown). He has never protested, and never even threatened to quit.
“Therefore it can be taken that he fully agreed with Operation Lalang,” said Amanah's Sepang MP Hanipa Maidin in a statement today.
“So, don't be too clever to criticise Mahathir, when one is clearly also responsible.
Please don't exhibit your ignorance, Mr Prime Minister,” he said.
He was responding to Najib blaming the mass arrests of 1987 under the Internal Security Act squarely on Mahathir (photo), telling civil servants in Perak that he as a leader was not as cruel as his predecessor.
Hanipa reminded Najib of the convention of collective ministerial responsibility of the cabinet, who should share the blame for decisions made by its members.
Najib was a member of Mahathir's cabinet at the time of the arrests, and also Umno Youth chief.
“Being a member of Mahathir's cabinet at the time, then any decision of the head of cabinet leaves you only two choices – whether you support and agree, or you don't agree, and protest and quit your post.
“That's it. Fullstop,” said Hanipa.
He said Najib's act of blaming the past on Mahathir only reflected on himself.
“I feel sorry for him. His reasoning blaming Mahathir... when speaking before 5,000 civil servants in Perak, essentially implicates himself.
“I am not sure if he realises this or not,” he said.
He added such reasoning would be expected from “circus” MPs, but it is “unfortunate” coming from a prime minister. -Mkini
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