UMNO will dig up Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s history and make him and his allies in Pakatan Harapan uncomfortable, said party Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

He said Dr Mahathir, who is PH chairman, would have to face his track record from his time as prime minister between 1981 and 2003, such as how he had managed the economy and dealt with federal institutions.

Khairy cited the Bank Negara Malaysia forex losses, privatisation of Malaysia Airlines and judicial crisis as among the scandals that occurred under Dr Mahathir’s rule.

“People say we are looking into an old scandal with the forex losses, but no matter how long ago it had happened, we must probe into it for wrongdoing,” he said in a speech at the opening of the Kepala Batas Umno division delegates’ meeting today.

“I would rather not talk badly (about Dr Mahathir), but this person has been pointing fingers at the current administration when he has an even worse track record.

“If (he) doesn’t want to open up (on his) history, sit quietly. ‘Duduk diam saja’. But, he is challenging us, talking about all sorts of things… kleptocracy and what not.

“So, history will be opened up. We will have to dig up and talk. We will let the people decide for themselves.”

In a press conference later, Khairy zeroed in on the 1988 Malaysian constitutional crisis, where Dr Mahathir suspended and sacked the lord president of the Supreme Court, Salleh Abbas, and two other Supreme Court judges.

The crisis took place after Umno’s party polls in 1987, when, for the first time in 12 years, the incumbent president – Dr Mahathir – was challenged.

Dr Mahathir had won the elections and purged those who went against him, leading to 12 party members filing a suit at the High Court to declare the polls result invalid.

“We have to open up his history. It will be very uncomfortable for him,” said Khairy.

“ If we refer to the statements by (DAP parliamentary opposition leader) Lim Kit Siang in the Dewan Rakyat on this, it will be uncomfortable for PH leaders.”

Khairy made the remarks in countering Dr Mahathir’s criticism of the federal government for extending the services of Chief Justice Md Raus Sharif and Court of Appeal president Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin.

“It is like the forex case, when Lim met the panel investigating the scandal. Lim said those responsible were the prime minister and finance minister at that time, who were Dr Mahathir and (PH de facto leader) Anwar Ibrahim.

“So, how will they continue to be political allies when everything is opened up again? We will be seeing their different opinions and stands.

“We will see that this is a coalition not formed on truth and principles. If it was, they would not have been able to work together from the start.

“It is all for power,” he said, adding that no such party should form the government.

Earlier in his speech, Khairy said anywhere else, a former leader who had served his tenure would not criticise his successor.

He used former United States president Barack Obama as an example, saying the latter did not openly criticise President Donald Trump.

“Let the people decide for themselves. We are not an iron-fisted government that has no elections.

“To me, it is best we look towards a new future for Malaysia.”

He took a dig at the PH leadership, saying he recently saw a WhatsApp message promoting Malaysia’s new hope, featuring pictures of Dr Mahathir and Anwar.

“To me, that is the past. Old story. It is 2017 today. Are they rewinding to the 80s and 90s?

“Under (Prime Minister) Najib (Razak), when we talk of the future, it is Transformasi Nasional 2050.”

Khairy admitted that the general election looked tougher for Umno now as Malays had four other Malay-based parties, namely PKR, PAS, Amanah and Dr Mahathir’s Bersatu, to choose from.

However, he said, he was confident that Malays remembered what Umno had done for them and were indebted to the party for what they had achieved.

“Umno is responsible for the social mobility enjoyed by Malays from villages and the interior. Today, many are doctors, engineers, corporate figures and even millionaires.

“I have asked Malays who are not Umno members. They remember what Umno has done for them… village children received education and scholarships to go to university, while entrepreneurs got government loans for their businesses.

“How can they hate Umno when they themselves were made by Umno?”

He said people had told him that the problem was not with the party, but with some people in it.

“There are some people in Umno they don’t like, so as Umno members, we have to watch ourselves and show the people what Umno is really about.

“Umno is not a party for elites, the nobility or the rich. It is for the average person, the people in the kampung.

“We need to correct the misconception, and let them see that Umno cares for the people and will be with them through thick and thin.

“Don’t go around making remarks like ‘if chicken is expensive, eat something else’. We have to be the best Umno members so the people will not reject the party.” – July 23, 2017.