THE Umno-themed reception given to a visiting minister at a Putrajaya school yesterday is a sign that the ruling party is afraid, said former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who likened the show of partisanship to the fawning loyalty dictators demanded of the people.

The Bersatu chairman said only dictators would force the citizens to support them and the practice has spread to Malaysia under the administration of Prime Minister Najib Razak. 

“They are bankrupt, they don’t know what else to do. 

“They are afraid, they have to do all the wrong things, this is the kind of system practised by dictators,” Dr Mahathir said at his party headquarters in Petaling Jaya today. 

The Bersatu chairman was commenting on a video clip showing Federal Territories Minister Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor visiting a primary school in Precinct 14, Putrajaya yesterday.

Tengku Adnan is seen touring the school while the pupils sing the Umno song and wave the party flag. He also hands out prizes for a competition called “Umno and Independence”.

Pupils and teachers of SK Putrajaya Presint 14 (1) had participated in a class decoration and performance competition, jointly organised by the Federal Territories Ministry, Putrajaya Education Department, Putrajaya Umno division education bureau and two other civil society groups.

At the event, Tengku Adnan also invited teachers to join the ruling party.

Dr Mahathir denied that such practices were common during his 22 years in office, saying it was wrong for the government to side with any political party, including the ruling party. 

“We cannot use government machinery to serve party interests; it is wrong.

“But the government does not have the rule of law; it will do anything. But I believe that the people know that this is an abuse of power by the government,” he said. 

Chief Secretary to the Government Ali Hamsa said today he did not have issues with teachers, who were also civil servants, joining Umno. – October 4, 2017.