Be a Malay gentleman and go, Dr M tells Pak Lah

Be a Malay gentleman and go, Dr M tells Pak Lah Q: What would you do if you were allowed to become PM again for 100 days? Dr M: The first thing I will do is get rid of Pak Lah. When I chose him over Najib, they told me he is Mr Nice and Mr Clean and all that. Only now we know what kind of a person he really is. So, the first thing I will do is fire him. Once I have done that, the rest is easy. No need to elaborate. JOHOR BARU, May 17 ─ Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad continued his attacks on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, telling him to be a Malay gentleman by stepping down from his post following the March 8 political tsunami. The former Prime Minister said he was ready to offer 100 tips on how Umno and the people could get Abdullah to quit. "But I will not tell you all today but only one or two. “If you were to see him, just tell him point blank: ‘Turun la awak, awak yang hancurkan parti’ (You better step down, you are the one who ruined the party). "Or just tell him ‘Ini bukan parti awak, ini milik orang Melayu dan bukan keluarga awak’ (This is not your party, this party belongs to the Malays and not your family)," Dr Mahathir said at a post-election Umno forum organised by the Badan-badan Bertindak Gabungan Ahli-Ahli Umno Akar Umbi Johor in Johor Baru today, attended by about 500 people. The other speakers included former NSTP group editor Datuk Abdul Kadir Jasin, former Johor Speaker Datuk Zainalabidin Mohd Zin, ex-Backbenchers Club president Datuk Rohanie Ahmad and Umno Youth exco member Datuk Mukhriz Mahathir. Dr Mahathir said Umno founder Datuk Onn Jaafar stepped down when party members opposed his move to open up membership to the other races. "Nobody cursed him but he was a Malay gentleman so he stepped down and was replaced by Tunku Abdul Rahman. "When the ruling party lost its two-thirds majority in the 1969 election, some party members criticised Tunku Abdul Rahman and said that his leadership was no longer relevant. "As a Malay gentleman he heard what they were saying, stepped down and handed over the party leadership to Tun Abdul Razak. When he stepped down, Umno was not ruined but only grew stronger. "Since then, the Barisan Nasional has always secured a two-thirds majority in general elections. This is because the party has been fighting for the interest of the Malays. “Leaders come and leaders go, but the party remains. "However, Pak Lah does not seem to get the message after the results of the 12th election. This makes us wonder whether he is fighting for the interest of the party or certain people, or whether he is just strengthening his own administration," he said. Dr Mahathir said “if there is a determination to revive Umno (not Pak Lah), then party members should be brave enough and admit that poor leadership by Pak Lah had ruined Umno and it is time to expel him.” He could not understand why Deputy PM Datuk Seri Najib Razak was defending Abdullah by saying that the people should not dismiss the Prime Minister. "That's why I want to offer 100 tips to dismiss him (Pak Lah)," he added. Dr Mahathir also said there was no need to fear that the government would use the Sedition Act to charge those who were not loyal to the government, adding that one should be loyal to the religion, the race and the country.