Mahathir starts his campaign for the opposition
(MMO) – Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad will today campaign officially for the opposition pact in the by-election contest against Barisan Nasional.
Former Umno president Dr Mahathir arrived in Sekinchan this morning, where he will join civil society and Pakatan Harapan leaders in a colloquium on controversies surrounding the BN administration.
Among notable speakers today are DAP’s Lim Kit Siang, HAKAM president Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim, and Sarawak Report’s Clare Rewcastle Brown who will participate remotely via video conferencing.
The event, which also is to tie-in with the Citizen’s Declaration calling for Datuk Seri Najib Razak to be removed, saw Pakatan Harapan’s Sungai Besar by-election candidate Azhar Ab Syukur signing the document on stage beside Dr Mahathir.
Today will be the first time Dr Mahathir has publicly campaigned against Barisan Nasional (BN) in the by-elections.
In his opening address, the 92-year old acknowledged the discrepancy in his collaboration with those he once considered nemeses and vice versa.
“I feel awkward being here with my former enemies including Lim Kit Siang. I’m not a member of any party, not even the opposition party. I’m here as a concerned citizen.
“I am here to support a member from Amanah who has signed the Citizen’s Declaration to oust Najib,” Dr Mahathir told the audience during his opening address.
Dr Mahathir has campaigned against BN before, when he had sought to remove Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, but this is the first time he has done so directly on an opposition stage.
Among issues that Dr Mahathir highlighted in his short address included the problems with state-owned firm, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), the RM2.6 billion donation Najib received, and his usage of public funds.
He ask urged the people of Sungai Besar to vote against BN as it would show the ruling party that they were unhappy with the way the country is being led.
BN, PAS and Amanah are all contesting the by-election here and in Kuala Kangsar on June 18.
The parliamentary Sungai Besar by-election in Selangor will see a three-way contest between BN’s Budiman Mohd Zohdi, PAS’s Dr Rani Osman and Amanah’s Azhar Shukur.
The federal Kuala Kangsar by-election in Perak will see a four-way fight between BN’s Mastura Mohd Yazid, PAS’s Dr Najihatussalehah Ahmad, Amanah’s Ahmad Termizi Ramli and, independent Izat Bukhary Ismail Bukhary.
