Dr Mahathir Should Have Taken On Mantle Of Statesman After Retirement, Says Karpal - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, April 7 (Bernama) -- Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, after retiring as prime minister, should have ridden into the sunset in dignity and grace instead of attacking the government of his successor, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, said DAP chairman Karpal Singh.

In making the remark in a statement here today, the veteran politician said Dr Mahathir, after retirement, should have taken on the mantle of a statesman instead of attacking his own party, Umno, for whose deregistration in 1988, Dr Mahathir was responsible.

Karpal also said that Dr Mahathir should be the last to attack his successor, Abdullah.

"Gutter politics is alien to statesmanship. Dr Mahathir has too many 'political felonies' in his closet. I say those who live in glasshouses should not undress without drawing the curtains. This utterance aptly and amply applies to Dr Mahathir."

Karpal said he was happy with the statement made by Abdullah yesterday that it was Dr Mahathir who was responsible for "Operasi Lalang" under which 106 people, including Karpal, were detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in 1987.

"This revelation brings into sharp focus the necessity of setting up a Royal Commission of Inquiry to probe into Dr Mahathir's abuse of power in initiating "Operasi Lalang" which brought about national and international outcry."

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