Saying everyone had a different past, the prime minister said that he too was no different, and that people might carry themselves differently once they were part of the government.
“Back then he made a statement. It was to show the outside world that there is no justice in Malaysia. But that was then. Now he is (in the) government. He no longer holds on to what he said.
“Like me. People used to call me Mahazalim (dictator),” he said, referring to a derogatory title given to him by his opponents during the 1998 political crisis.
“Now they accept this Mahazalim as their leader.”
Mahathir was commenting on a video clip from 10 years ago that has been making the rounds on social media again, showing the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, who is also the Hindraf chairman, criticising the government for alleged discrimination of ethnic minorities, especially the Indian community.
It has become a police case with Deputy Inspector-General of Police Noor Rashid Ibrahim saying today they would call Waytha to explain his allegations and the basis on which they were made.
Angered by the video, various groups have called for Waytha’s resignation as a minister, some through a petition which has since garnered more than 150,000 signatures.
Mahathir said anyone was free to start a petition but it was not compulsory for someone to resign based on it.
“If Waytha wants to resign he can but he doesn’t want to. You can also make a petition for me to resign as PM,” he said in response to a question from a reporter.
He also commented on remarks made on social media with regards to the lack of unity displayed in Waytha’s office where all of his top officers, it is claimed, are Indian.
“Give him a chance. He’s new. He can only appoint people that he knows. He can’t appoint somebody he doesn’t know. He can change it later on,” he said.
Mahathir also spoke on the possibility of the Pakatan Harapan government abolishing the National Security Council Act.
He said based on the coalition’s election manifesto, PH wanted to repeal many draconian laws put in place or used widely by the previous government.
However, he said, as a democratic nation, the government would have to listen to the people’s opinion as well, adding that the matter needed to be thoroughly reviewed.
“Some people believe if it were to be repealed than there will be many criminals who will have free time to do what they like,” he said.