I Did It My Way

Mahathir recently claimed that Operation Lallang, in which more than a hundred people were arrested in 1987 under the infamous ISA, including DAP stalwarts Karpal Singh and Lim Kiat Siang, was not his idea but was actually the police's. He went further to say that in fact he had met them with a group of people to assure them that they would not be arrrested but the police went ahead nevertheless and he was powerless to do anything about it.

Now Mahathir claims that he also wanted to abolish the ISA but the police advised him against it.

Understandably, what Mahathir said has drawn much flak and both Karpal Singh and Lim Kiat Siang have challenged the former prime minister to name the group or stand condemned as a liar.

Malaysians would like to believe that what Mahathir said is true. But it would be stretching credulity a little too far to believe what he said, especially considering that at that time Mahathir was not only the prime minister but also the home minister in charge of the police. Further, it is really difficult to believe that Mahathir who was known as a strong prime minister who brooded little dissent, would behave like chicken before the police.

If we believe what Mahathir said, then it appears that he never did anything wrong.  He only did it his way.

For too long Malaysians have been supposed to be gentle, docile people who are expected to take whatever the politicians tell us as the gospel truth and unable to think for ourselves.

What do you think?