Mahathir can still undo one of the greatest injustices of his 22-year rule – to secure a pardon for Anwar Ibrahim in the same way he had secured a pardon for Harun IdrisMedia Statement by Lim Kit Siang (Petaling Jaya, Wednesday): he Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has still 10 days to undo one of the greatest injustices of his 22-year rule – the sacking and incarceration of his third Deputy Prime Minister and one-time designated successor, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. In Bangkok yesterday, Mahathir said he would pardon Anwar if he had the powers of the king in his country. He said he wished he was the king of Malaysia when asked by a reporter whether as a magnanimous gesture he would consider releasing Anwar on his retirement at the end of this month.
He said if he was the constitutional monarch, “I can just grant (him) a pardon on my birthday”. But, he hastened to add, “I am only a prime minister and I have to obey the law.”
What he said, however, was contrary to what he had said in Bangkok two days earlier on his role in securing the pardon and release from jail of the former Selangor Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Harun Idris, who died of a stroke at the age of 78 earlier on Sunday. Mahathir had said
he was indebted to Harun for bringing him back into UMNO after he was
expelled from the party in 1969. (22/10/2003) * Lim Kit Siang, DAP National Chairman |