No stranger to controversial remarks, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia’s former Prime Minister, did not only say in a June 19 (Sunday) speech that Johor once owned Singapore but also that Johor should claim it and return it to Malaysia.
However, he softened the blow somewhat by adding, “However, there is no demand whatsoever of Singapore. Instead, we show our appreciation to the leadership of this new country called Singapore.”
At one point in the speech, he also said that Malaysia should also get back the Riau Islands, “as they are Tanah Melayu (Malay land),” The Straits Times reported.
Dr Mahathir made these remarks in Selangor last Sunday, at an event put together by a number of non-governmental organisations titled Aku Melayu: Survival Bermula (I am Malay: Survival Begins).
In his speech, he also wondered “whether the Malay Peninsula will belong to someone else in the future.”
Netizens had much to say about his remarks, with a number of them calling the former Prime Minister, who is now 96 years old, “senile”.
Others wrote that he was deflecting attention from Malaysia’s problems.
Many netizens called him out for his divisive remarks.
One wrote that he is “Trying to revive his political fortunes using his usual tactics of slamming SG for his own political gain.”
Another simply wrote, “It’s time for you to retire lah.”
/TISG
Will Mahathir and Anwar take the bitter pill for one last time?