Former minister says those who disagree with Kua Kia Soong’s comparison of Dr Mahathir with Adolf Hitler should disassociate themselves from him.
PETALING JAYA: Former minister Zaid Ibrahim wonders if civil society groups agree with Suaram founder Kua Kia Soong comparing Dr Mahathir Mohamad with Adolph Hitler over his role in Operasi Lalang 30 years ago.
“I want to know if they share that obnoxious view,” the veteran lawyer who joined DAP in February, said in a text message to FMT.
He said he did not know Kua’s motive in drawing such a comparison, saying it only put the NGOs in a negative light.
Kua, who was detained without trial for 445 days during Operasi Lalang that was launched on Oct 27, 1987, has repeatedly asked former prime minister Mahathir, now chairman of Pakatan Harapan (PH) and PPBM, to apologise for his involvement in the crackdown.
Earlier today, Kua likened the act of some PH politicians of absolving Mahathir of all responsibility in Operasi Lalang to absolving Adolph Hitler of triggering World War 2 in Europe.
“It’s like saying Hitler had nothing to do with it and that it (the war) was because of fascism, and Hitler does not need to apologise,” he said at an event organised by Suaram to commemorate the 30th anniversary of Operasi Lalang in Kuala Lumpur.
Kua also questioned why it was difficult for Mahathir, who quit Umno in February last year to form PPBM in September the same year, to sincerely apologise.
The crackdown involved 106 people, including civil society activists, NGO leaders, opposition politicians, intellectuals and student activists, detained without trial under the now repealed Internal Security Act (ISA).
Mahathir, who served as prime minister from 1981 to 2003, was quoted as saying yesterday that the campaign of arrests was a police decision, although it has been said that the arrests could not have been made without his signature as home minister at the time.
Suaram said on Oct 13 they had plans to invite Mahathir and Hanif Omar, who was inspector-general of police during Operasi Lalang, to join the forum as panellists. Neither was present today.
The forum’s coordinator Amir Abd Hadi said they had no intention of criticising the duo but only wanted them to explain their actions in calling for the arrests.
Meanwhile, Zaid said groups that did not share the same sentiment as Kua should dissociate themselves from him.
Zaid had earlier tweeted that Kua’s statement was irresponsible and that “nothing good will come out of it”.
“This kind of talk can only come out of those full of hatred,” he said.
Zaid has been an earnest backer of Mahathir since PPBM joined PH in March with the 92-year-old later becoming chairman of the opposition pact.
In June, Zaid called on reformists in PH to set aside their doubts about Mahathir leading the coalition, saying the former Umno president was key to ending the rule of the Barisan Nasional government.
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