PUTRAJAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's statement that he had nothing to do with the removal of Tun Salleh Abas as the Lord President in 1988 is mere political rhetoric to confuse and mislead the people, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Azalina Othman.
Dr Mahathir had today claimed that Salleh’s removal was carried out under the instructions of the then Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
Azalina asked why it took the Pakatan Harapan chairman such a long time to say that he was not responsible for the incident.
"The case took place some 30 years ago. Would he also swear now that he has nothing to do with Operasi Lalang 1987 and never used the Internal Security Act (ISA) to arrest almost 100 politicians," she asked.
The 1988 crisis, she said, was addressed in a book entitled 'May Day For Justice' authored by K.Das and Salleh Abas.
“Tun Salleh himself wrote that ‘If you destroy the judiciary, you destroy democracy and if you destroy democracy, you belong to a dictatorial government.’
"Tun Salleh also hoped that the 1988 crisis will be remembered by the current and future generation on the importance of having a strong and free judiciary.
"The 1988 constitutional crisis happened when I was reading final year law in Universiti Malaya. The news of Tun Salleh's sacking was a dark day for the judiciary in the country.
"Dr Mahathir saying that he wanted to reinstate the freedom of the judiciary came as a shock to me. I can't believe he actually said that," she said in a statement.
Azalina said she clearly remembered in 1989, DAP leader Lim Kit Siang had urged parliamentarians to form an investigation commission to investigate the sacking.
She questioned the opposition's reason for accepting Dr Mahathir, a person they had once had branded a leader with an iron fist.
"Now, they are sitting at the same table and have appointed him as their leader. Are these merely to fool the public or does the opposition not have any principles?
"Maybe the opposition can conveniently forget what Dr Mahathir has done, but not the former judges involved and the families of ISA detainees.
"All statements he has made today including what he has said during the PPBM general assembly can be categorised as political rhetoric," she said.
Azalina added there were numerous articles and allegations on scandals during Dr Mahathir's time including what was contained in a book authored by Barry Wain titled “Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir Mohamad in Turbulent Times”.
"But, the people have to come to their own conclusion about these allegations.”
The current prime minister, Azalina said, respected the judiciary as an independent entity and has implemented numerous legislative transformations in the interest of the people.
"He uses a different approach, holding true to the principle of moderation in implementing government policies for the wellbeing of Malaysians," she said.