Bring back Dr M to Putrajaya, says ex-minister Zainuddin Maidin
Former information minister Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin wants a return of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to Putrajaya to help the Barisan Nasional federal government tackle raging racial, religious and economic issues.
He said the proposal was not for Dr Mahathir, Malaysia's longest-serving prime minister, to take over the stewardship of the country from Najib Razak, but to help Najib face issues that are engulfing the country.
"The Cabinet must make a quick decision to give a place to Dr Mahathir to ensure he can play a role to give moral support to the prime minister... to strengthen the country's rule and restore the people's confidence before restoring the ISA," he said in referring to suggestions that the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA), which provides for detention without trial, be brought back.
"Dr Mahathir's experiences of more than 20 years in tackling the problems of the country, especially in terms of security, should not be wasted," Zainuddin wrote on his Zamkata blog today.
However, he did not specify what position Dr Mahathir should be assigned to.
Dr Mahathir, who led the country from 1981 to 2003, suggested that Putrajaya bring back the ISA to control the "extremist minority" who, he charged, had undermined the country's stability.
"For extremists like this group, we need the ISA," Dr Mahathir told reporters on Thursday after appearing as a guest on the RTM2 "Hello on Two" programme.
Since the May 5th general election last year, there has been a steady drum beat by Dr Mahathir's supporters, including Umno veterans and bloggers, who have been pushing for a return of the former prime minister, as many are still hankering for the years when a decisive Dr Mahathir was heading a much stronger government.
Zainuddin said if Najib and the Cabinet are willing to do this, then the prime minister would not be seen as a weak leader, but a true statesman that puts the interest of the people, rather than self-interest, at the forefront.
Zainuddin was also the former chief editor of Malay daily Utusan Malaysia; he was inducted into government during the Mahathir years.
Former information minister Tan Sri Zainuddin Maidin wants a return of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to Putrajaya to help the Barisan Nasional federal government tackle raging racial, religious and economic issues.
He said the proposal was not for Dr Mahathir, Malaysia's longest-serving prime minister, to take over the stewardship of the country from Najib Razak, but to help Najib face issues that are engulfing the country.
"The Cabinet must make a quick decision to give a place to Dr Mahathir to ensure he can play a role to give moral support to the prime minister... to strengthen the country's rule and restore the people's confidence before restoring the ISA," he said in referring to suggestions that the draconian Internal Security Act (ISA), which provides for detention without trial, be brought back.
"Dr Mahathir's experiences of more than 20 years in tackling the problems of the country, especially in terms of security, should not be wasted," Zainuddin wrote on his Zamkata blog today.
However, he did not specify what position Dr Mahathir should be assigned to.
Dr Mahathir, who led the country from 1981 to 2003, suggested that Putrajaya bring back the ISA to control the "extremist minority" who, he charged, had undermined the country's stability.
"For extremists like this group, we need the ISA," Dr Mahathir told reporters on Thursday after appearing as a guest on the RTM2 "Hello on Two" programme.
Since the May 5th general election last year, there has been a steady drum beat by Dr Mahathir's supporters, including Umno veterans and bloggers, who have been pushing for a return of the former prime minister, as many are still hankering for the years when a decisive Dr Mahathir was heading a much stronger government.
Zainuddin said if Najib and the Cabinet are willing to do this, then the prime minister would not be seen as a weak leader, but a true statesman that puts the interest of the people, rather than self-interest, at the forefront.
Zainuddin was also the former chief editor of Malay daily Utusan Malaysia; he was inducted into government during the Mahathir years.
