Thursday 28 Mar 2024
By
main news image

(Sept 9): Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today police are welcome to arrest him over his speech and participation in the Bersih 4 rally late last month.

"It's their right ... arrest (me), what is there to cooperate," he said after arriving from the Czezh Republic at the Subang Airport today.

Dr Mahathir and his wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, were greeted by nearly 100 supporters upon their arrival about 11.15am.

He joined the crowd when they started singing We Are the World, made popular by Michael Jackson.

The chorus however was changed to "We are Malaysia, we are the rakyat".

Dr Mahathir added that he was willing to extend his full cooperation with the police if called up for questioning.

"I've read in the papers, of course I will go (to the police station).

"If the police call you up for questioning, you must go, that is the way here in Malaysia," he said.

As for the "red shirt" rally planned by a pro-Malay rights group on September 16, Dr Mahathir said the organisers should cancel the demonstration, saying that it was mimicking the 'red shirt-yellow shirt' conflict in Thailand.

"Red shirt demonstration? No need (for it) ... yellow versus red will be like in Thailand.

"These are our problems, get it solved," he said.

On September 3, Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar had said that police will question Dr Mahathir over defamatory statements he had allegedly made at the Bersih 4 rally.

He said the former prime minister will have his statement recorded for defamation under Section 500 of the Penal Code which carries a two-year jail term, a fine, or both, upon conviction.

During the Bersih 4 rally, Dr Mahathir and Dr Siti Hasmah had been present on both days of the 34-hour protest. – The Malaysian Insider

 

      Print
      Text Size
      Share