I’m not making up stories, says Hishamuddin Rais

Desmond Davidson Desmond Davidson Updated 7 years ago · Published on 2 Sep 2018 4:10PM · 4 Comments

Social activist Hishamuddin Rais says he is recording history for the benefit of future generations of Malaysians and maintains that his claims are all backed by facts. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, September 2, 2018.

SOCIAL activist Hishamuddin Rais has denied being a fabricator of stories, after being called one by PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

He said his account and claims on the late swearing-in of Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s cabinet after winning the general election and why PKR deputy presidential candidate Rafizi Ramli opposed Dr Mahathir’s appointments of the home, defence and finance ministers, were all true and based on facts.

Anwar, commenting on a series of exposes posted in Hishamuddin’s weekly column in the news portal Malaysiakini titled “Recording History” (Merakam Sejarah), said Hishamuddin is “great at fabricating stories”.

“He just writes based on whispers on the streets… he does not have any direct source,” Anwar had said while closing the Congress on the Future of the Bumiputeras and the Nation yesterday.

But Hishamuddin is standing by his words, including his account of why Anwar’s wife and former PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was absent when Dr Mahathir announced the appointments of Muhyiddin Yassin, Mohamad Sabu and Lim Guan Eng to those cabinet portfolios. He says he wrote about “what had happened behind-the-scenes, which is not known to the general public”.

“What I wrote was facts. I know what I wrote. It’s not fabrication. It’s not rumours or hearsay. It’s not roadside stories. It’s not whispers from anyone either,” Hishamuddin said in a statement.

He said he wrote the articles to record history and he did not care who was prime minister.

He also made it clear that he is not like the general news media.

“What I am doing is to record history. This is for the future reference of our children and grandchildren as was done by Abdullah Munshi in Hikayat Abdullah.

“The New Malaysia agenda at this moment is to defend the democratic space.

“This democratic space can vanish if we of all races do not reject those who are greedy for power, those who fight for power, not to defend the reform agenda and democratic space but to sabotage the reform agenda and return to the old feudal Malaysia,” he said. – September 2, 2018.

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Comments

  • It saddens me that we are even having this conversation! I had naively assumed that EVERYONE would be on the side of reformasi. Now instead of this the once saudarafrom different PH are all pulling in different directions.

    Posted 7 years ago by Simple Sulaiman · Reply

  • TMI, please remove the blue comment icon as it blocks us from reading what we are typing this leading to inaccurate messaging.

    Posted 7 years ago by Simple Sulaiman · Reply

  • Comrades from the Baling student demonstration days should remain united. However the right of free expression should also be respected.

    Posted 7 years ago by Azlan Romly · Reply

  • I believe no smoke no fire !!!!. Judging by Anwar and his family in actions immediately after the GE14 speaks volume of their intent. Hishamuddin maybe uncouth in his fiery speeches but it is his nature way of expression and the truth in calling. Anwar has forgotten his place in society !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply