UMNO vice-president Hishammuddin Hussein has criticised Dr Mahathir Mohamad for leading Pakatan Harapan (PH) to meet with European Union ambassadors in Kuala Lumpur last Thursday.

He said the move showed that the former prime minister had gone against his principles because he had disallowed meetings between the opposition and foreign ambassadors in the country during his 22-year tenure.

“I still remember that he would get very upset if the opposition wanted to discuss bilateral relations with foreign ambassadors… even if there was no political agenda.

“But now he (Dr Mahathir) is doing it. He does not walk the talk,” said Hishammuddin when commenting on the Bersatu chairman’s move in urging the ambassadors to pressure Prime Minister Najib Razak to ensure that the 14th general election is conducted fairly.

The defence minister, who is also minister with special functions, said this at a press conference after officiating a groundbreaking ceremony for Sekolah Agama Kerajaan Johor (SAKJ) Fasa 5, SAKJ Taman Sri Lambak and SAKJ Paloh 2 today.

Hishammuddin, who was youth and sports minister in Dr Mahathir’s cabinet from 1999 until the former prime minister resigned in 2003, claimed that apart from the opposition, foreign envoys were also prevented from holding meetings with cabinet ministers to discuss bilateral issues during his time.

“Though it was clearly stated that political matters would not be discussed, it was still forbidden,” he said.

Fourteen ambassadors and three charges de affaires of EU countries were present during the two-hour meeting at the residence of the Head of Delegation of the EU to Malaysia, Maria Castillo Fernández.

In the meeting, PH also urged the European countries to appeal to the Malaysian government to allow them to send international election observers to GE14. – Bernama, January 27, 2018.