FORMER prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad will travel to Sabah to campaign against Perikatan Nasional and urge Sabah voters to punish the assemblyman who have switched parties.

“I will go to Sabah because what I saw in Sabah was a very bad example of corruption,” the 95-year-old told a webinar organised by Yayasan Perintis Malaysia (Malaysia Trailblazers Foundation) today. 

“There are 13 state assemblymen who have left the ruling coalition to join the opposition. 

“Why did they join the opposition? If they leave because they don’t agree with the government’s policies, then we can accept. But we found that they left because they were bribed. 

Dr Mahathir said the Pakatan Harapan government he led for two years had focused on destroying corruption.

“Sadly, corruption now happens openly. Those who switch parties, they just do it because of money. This cannot be a healthy for politics in Sabah and in Malaysia. 

“I hope those who leave are rejected in the coming state elections by the people of Sabah. They cannot be trusted because they are ruled by money, not principles. The moment they get money, they jump.”

“I am afraid in Sabah the old practices that we want to destroy have returned.”

Elections are due in Sabah within 60 days of the dissolution of the state legislative assembly on July 30.

Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal asked for a dissolution hours after former chief minister Musa Aman claimed the opposition bloc, led by Umno, had secured the simple majority necessary to form the state government.

The Sabah State Assembly has 65 representatives, including five who are nominated. A simple majority is 33 seats. 

Prior to the defections, the Warisan-led state government had 45 seats while the opposition bloc had 20. 

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has said it will investigate allegations that Sabah assemblymen were offered money and positions to switch parties.

At today’s webinar, Dr Mahathir acknowledged that race relations had become increasingly polarised in the country.

Asked about his hopes for the younger generation, he said: “I find our country is wealthy with plenty of opportunity for self-advancement. But these are hindered by selfish politicians. 

“Politicking has made the country unstable. Everyone is for their own party. We have lost our direction, we don’t know where to go.”

“We are becoming more racist, we only support our own kind. If we want Malaysia to be advanced and to have fewer problems, we need to be more tolerant of others.”

“We ask for things that we don’t need and if it’s not given, we get angry,” he added, describing politicians.

Also speaking in today’s webinar on the country’s future were MyPerintis founding chairman Lawrence Low, Chester Venture Bhd founder Howard Chew and wealth strategist Adrian Wee. – August 3, 2020.