Dr Mahathir was only acting brave, says forum panellist


Kamarul Zaman Yusoff's reaction upon Dr Mahathir Mohamad's appearance at the forum has become the butt of jokes on social media. – screen grab, March 23, 2018.

LECTURER Kamarul Zaman Yusoff said Dr Mahathir Mohamad was only pretending to be brave when he made a surprise visit to a forum on the latter’s viability as prime minister because of his age.

On his Facebook page, the Universiti Utara Malaysia said the Pakatan Harapan chairman should have replied to the invitation to the forum organised by Sinar Harian that he would be attending.

“In my opinion, Tun Dr Mahathir’s attempt to show his courage by challenging me on his Facebook page to criticise him straight to his face was a very funny thing.

“If he was really brave he should have responded to Sinar Harian’s invitation to sit through the forum as a panel member (pembicara) and not suddenly attending the event as a viewer,” said Kamarul.

The forum, “Is Tun M too old to be PM?” was broadcast live on Sinar Harian’s Facebook page and shows Dr Mahathir appearing at the event in Shah Alam while Kamarul was speaking.

The reaction on Kamarul’s face, who had been expressing views that the 93-year-old former prime minister should not return to office, has become the butt of jokes on social media.

Right before arriving at the forum, Dr Mahathir had posted on his Facebook page a photo of himself at the event with the caption,   “I’m here guys. Say it to my face.”

Kamarul also denied claims that he was scared when Dr Mahathir suddenly appeared during his speech.

“The claims that were widely spread on social media are not true, which included a photo of me as if was stunned, or as if I was scared when Tun Dr Mahathir arrived at the event.

“Instead I was feeling excited by Tun Dr Mahathir’s presence,” he wrote on his Facebook account.

Kamarul was also dissatisfied with the forum’s moderator, Nazri Kahar who acted as  a supporter of Dr Mahathir and a critic of Prime Minister Najib Razak.

“This was proven by the questions given an hour prior to the talk which requested for a comparison between a young figure filled with corruption and an old figure willed with innovation,” he added.

Kamarul also felt that the forum was biased and the event was held to promote Dr Mahathir.

“This was shown by the invitation from the organiser that said the discussion on the topic was meant for (people) ‘to clearly see (Dr Mahathir’s) strength’,” he claimed.

Two other panellists at the forum was psychology expert Mat Saat Bakri and fitness trainer Kevin Zahari.

During the forum yesterday, Dr Mahathir had declared that he is not too old to be the prime minister again.

The Pakatan Harapan chairman said he was willing to be prime minister again, claiming that many Umno leaders had asked him to do something about Najib following the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal. – March 23, 2018.


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Comments


  • This comedian and clown Kamarul Zaman Yusoff is seeking cheap publicity. What is his worth as an academic? He goes on and on criticising and ridiculing Opposition candidates without rhyme or reason. His arguments or views are spurious. Looking at his demeanour at the Forum, one could say that he was fidgety, scarred and lost his composure. He looked like a greenstick before Tun Mahathir. Yet he has the audacity to say

    Posted 6 years ago by Peter Johnson · Reply

    • His worth as an academic is zero ;) Universiti Utara Malaysia? lol, there are kindergartens where the level of intellectual discourse is higher than UUM.

      Posted 6 years ago by Tommy richard · Reply

  • I am waiting with popcorns in hand to see what UUM is going to do. Surely UUM students are not just going to sit on their hands and do nothing ? Surely the teaching faculty of UUM faculty is not just going to stand by and look on as if nothing happened ? Have you seen how this professor reacted when Dr. Mahathir showed up and sat in front of him - i have seen high school students can do better. Look at the how the professor is responding to the criticism that he handled the entire thing poorly - isn't more expected even from a first year student?

    Surely the UUM students are worried that if word got out that this is the quality of the professors who teach them, surely the world is not going to take them seriously

    If this guy is a professor in UUM and you are also a professor in UUM, this will make him your peer and your equal, isn't it. If you are equal to this guy, can you really blame people if they think you are an first class joker too. The maths tally , afterall.

    Posted 6 years ago by Nehru Sathiamoorthy · Reply

  • UUM. What a shame of having a stupid academician like this. U should throw this guy out of campus instantly. Tun M, overseas unviversities salute u!

    Posted 6 years ago by Peter Smalling · Reply

  • This prof is a fake!!! He can't him hold himself in good standing when faced with his adversary of the subject matter. An academician !!!! my foot !!!!. A dullard all flashy in shooting from the hip but lost his balls when a real man stand infront of him. His deportment has just lent weight to the beliefs that as a sycophant he is really devoid of intellectual capabilities and a parasitic worm which is a bane to the varsity from where he is. He thinks too big of himself and now has to wallow in humilation and shame and not knowing his place in society. That is the best from UmnoBN and more to come all in queue to be ridiculed.

    Posted 6 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • M acted brave while prof kangkung bin kongkang chicken out

    Posted 6 years ago by Leslie Chan · Reply

  • Dr.M has usually been one to "take the bull by the horns" & confront issues head-on..

    Posted 6 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply

  • Only ACTING brave?? Mahathir IS BRAVE. The young "professor" on the other hand cannot even act as if he is a qualified professor.

    Posted 6 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • idiot professor teaching at a joke of a school with his stupid fake ass degrees from garbage schools. shut up kamarul

    Posted 6 years ago by Tommy richard · Reply

  • You cannot pretend to be brave when you take the bull by the horns, moron! Either you are brave enough or not, full stop.

    Posted 6 years ago by Bala Menon · Reply