MUAR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is unfazed by the police investigations against him and will continue to talk about race, religion and royalty, or “3R” issues, every chance he gets.
The former prime minister, who has been called up by the police nine times so far for his statements on 3R issues, insisted that it is his right to do so.
“The police have recorded my statements nine times. I do not mind how many times they want to call me, I will still talk about my bangsa (race),” he told a Perikatan Nasional ceramah in Bakri here on Sunday night.
“I know what I am saying now is being recorded by certain parties and I will once again be called (by the police) where they will ask why I am saying all these things,” he said at the ceramah which is being held in conjunction with the Simpang Jeram by-election on Sept 9.
On the stage: (From left) Dr Mahathir, Muhyiddin, Abdul Hadi and Lau at the Perikatan mega ceramah in Bakri.
“But my answer is easy, if what I said is wrong, then charge me in court and I will answer there,” he said, adding that it is unconstitutional for the unity government to bar people from talking about 3R issues.
There are 40,488 registered voters in Simpang Jeram, of which 21,005 (51.87%) are Malays, 18,052 (44.58%) are Chinese, 1,027 (2.53%) are Indians and 404 (0.99%) from other communities.
Dr Mahathir reiterated that he is not a member of any party but has thrown his support behind Perikatan as he claimed that the Opposition coalition is the only one defending Malay rights.
Perikatan’s Dr Mazri Yahya is taking on Pakatan Harapan’s Nazri Abdul Rahman and independent candidate S. Jeganathan for the seat.
Also present at the ceramah were Perikatan chairman Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang and Gerakan president Dominic Lau.
