KOTA BARU: At more than 90 years of age, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad should not be contesting in the upcoming 14th General Election (GE14), a Pas leader said today.
It secretary-general Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan said the former prime minister should instead make way for the younger generation to lead the nation.
"Voters nowadays prefer young, healthy and energetic leaders. They want someone who can fulfill their aspirations and needs,"
"I really pity to Dr Mahathir. I think this is the right time for him to get some rest.
"At his age now, he will have no energy to lead the country,
"Never before in any nation's history, a former PM who had stepped down or 'retired', comes back to contest for the same post," he said.
Meanwhile, on the Memali tragedy, Takiyuddin said Dr Mahathir should be called in as the main witness by the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) set up to investigate the 1985 incident.
He said Dr Mahathir could be an important witness for the RCI because at the time, he was the prime minister, a former MP and a Kedahan.
He said based on the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman's willingness to stand as a witness in the recent RCI on Bank Negara's forex scandal, he believed Dr Mahathir would be open to accept the matter again.
"When he (Dr Mahathir) was called as a witness by RCI committee on the forex issue, he has agreed to do so willingly.
"Therefore, I believe he will be ready to give his statement (to the RCI for Memali) and let the RCI committee evaluate and come out with its findings.
"(At the same time) The RCI can also determine which party had acted against the law in this issue," he said.
Apart from Dr Mahathir, he said members of the Press and relatives of the victims, who are still alive, could also be called in as witnesses.
Takiyuddin said Pas, in its latest meeting held on Jan 10, has decided to meet with Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is also the Home Minister, to discuss on the issue.
The Memali incident happened in Nov 19, 1985 when villagers resisted police's attempt to arrest religious preacher Ibrahim Mahmud who was known as Ibrahim Libya under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for deviant teachings, an allegation rejected by Pas.
Eighteen people including four policemen were killed in the tragedy and more than 100 people were injured as a result of the clash.