Vote Dr Mahathir if you want change, says law don

Low Han Shaun Low Han Shaun Updated 6 years ago · Published on 21 Jan 2018 6:50PM · 8 Comments

Universiti Malaya law lecturer Dr Azmi Sharom says he does not like Dr Mahathir Mohamad but will still vote for him. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, January 21, 2018.

VOTE for Dr Mahathir Mohamad not because you like him, but because you want a change, said Azmi Sharom.

The associate law professor from Universiti Malaya told a forum today he understood why Malaysians were cynical when it came to putting a former Umno man back in power.

“I am not saying not to vote for the opposition, I am not saying they made a mistake in choosing Dr Mahathir, but I am still going to vote for them, because if you want change, you cannot have the current government,” he said after the “Post 1MDB and Malaysia: what future can we have”, forum in Kuala Lumpur today.

Azmi was invited with former Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan and Dr Wong Chin Huat from the Penang Institute to voice their thoughts on the future.

“If you want to vote for the government then of course it is your right, but if you want change then you have no choice, no matter what you (or I) might think of Dr Mahathir,” Azmi said.

Recalling the Indonesian elections of the late 1990s, Azmi said the Indonesians had voted for same party of the man (Bacharuddin Jusuf Habibie) which they had kicked out.

“But now Indonesia is the only viable democracy in Southeast Asia. Their democracy survived … to make a first step to choose a government of their choice.

“We have never made that first step because we have never changed anything.

“So yes it is like swallowing glass, but what alternative do we have if we don’t swallow this? We are going to be stuck with the same old, same old.

“There is no reform at Barisan Nasional at all,” he said.

He added there needs to be a change in the educational system to not oppress future generations into submission.

“This is a key thing to move forward as a country, to have a population that is truly educated. To have universities that have complete academic freedom.

“Politicians are politicians and the only thing that keeps them in check are us,” he said.

The Forum was organised by Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM) as part of its 8th anniversary fund raising event. There were 200 guests.

GBM raised about RM266,000 which will be used to fund its programmes and operation for the next two years. – January 21, 2018.

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Comments

  • Kangkung professor...no dignity at all

    Posted 6 years ago by Mangkuk Hayun · Reply

    • Wah, your comment is so full of vegetable.

      Posted 6 years ago by Ramli Taro · Reply

  • Memanglah betul, kalaulah negara diperintah parti politik yang sama selama 60 tahun, kerajaan menjadi sombong. Tengoklah Jepun parti LDP memerintah tanpa berhenti selama lebih 60 tahun tapi akhirnya juga ditukar, selepas mereka sesal dan membuat rombakan akhirnya mereka kembali. Sama juga dengan Taiwan parti KMT yang memerintah selama lebih dari 50 tahun akhirnya juga ditukar kerana rakyat muaknya telatah sombong mereka. Parti Congress India juga mengalami nasib yang sama. Yang tak tukar parti poltk Singaura dan Malaysia.

    Posted 6 years ago by Malaysia Forward · Reply

  • Spot ON Azmi!!!

    Posted 6 years ago by Crishan Veera · Reply

  • People who think voting for something that hasn't worked 13 times is better than voting for something that hasn't been tried before must be paid to say so.

    Posted 6 years ago by Ramli Taro · Reply

  • The reason why the liberal left can be assured Mahathir cannot betrayed them is because Mahathir owes Mat Sabu big time. Mat Sabu alone can bring down Mahathir and destroyed MAHATHIR'S ENTIRE LEGACY if Mahathir betray PH.

    Posted 6 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • I wonder what's the change this kangkong professor means when choosing mahatir-lead coalition to overthrow previous mahatir-lead government

    Posted 6 years ago by Mangkuk Hayun · Reply

    • Juz started reading this piece and saw your comment. At least Azmi is a Professor and do possess the dignity to speak as per his calibre but what about you??? Are you loafer or a free loader and waiting for BRIM. Tell me you do have something in your cranium or I will be very judgemental as per to your name.

      Posted 6 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply