SUBANG JAYA: Former Premier Dr Mahathir Mohammad says he has yet to secure an audience with Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah to present the signatures of those in support of the Citizens’ Declaration.
Putting the blame on Prime Minister Najib Razak, Mahathir also claimed the former had placed the country under “house arrest.”
Referring to a recent news report in which citizens, vocal in criticising the government, were told to check their travel status before planning to go abroad, Dr Mahathir, sarcastically claimed: “The whole country is now under house arrest.”
“Now you are on ‘country arrest’. You cannot move away from the country.
“This is the way the country is taking good care of you all… We are not strong enough to stand up against dictator Najib.
“At the moment, I believe even the rulers are under house arrest.
“I’ve been trying to see them to show the declaration by the people, but so far I can’t get an appointment.”
Dr Mahathir said this at a dialogue organised by the National Union of Flight Attendants of Malaysia (Nufam) at Holiday Villa Hotel and Suites here today.
On May 13, Mahathir announced that he would take the 1.2 million signatures obtained from the Citizens’ Declaration to the King and relate to him the alleged sentiments of the people in their fight to oust Najib from office.
On another matter, Mahathir commented on the Sultan of Johor’s call to restore powers to the rulers with regard to examining and approving bills, and said, “It is up to the government to take whatever action.”