DAP man relives 1998 incident in call for probe against 'deviant' Mahathir

Jelutong MP RSN Rayer trained his guns on Dr Mahathir Mohamad again today, this time urging authorities to investigate the former leader over the "black eye" incident involving Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim in 1998.

Former police inspector-general Abdul Rahim Noor, who admitted to assaulting Anwar shortly after his arrest in September 1998, was sentenced to jail in 2000 over the incident.

But Rayer said Mahathir was also responsible, repeating a familiar accusation levelled by Anwar's supporters at that time.

"We know that former Langkawi MP Mahathir was the prime minister then.

"Shouldn't he be investigated too?" Rayer asked during the debate on the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia's (Suhakam) annual report in the Dewan Rakyat today.

"Legally, there is no limit. If it is a civil case, no case can be filed after six years. But I want to ask now, under whose instructions did the (former) police chief act?"

'Mahathir is sesat'

In response, Perikatan Nasional's Parit Buntar MP Misbahul Munir Masduki asked why the issue was only being raised now, and not when DAP was part of Mahathir's administration during the latter's second term as prime minister.

"Why didn't Rayer raise this issue when Mahathir was the prime minister during the previous PH administration? Why didn't they drag him (Mahathir) to court?" he asked.

Rayer said it was because Mahathir was with PH then, adding however that he was now with PAS.

"Now he is following PAS, and PAS is with him.

"At that time, he was not deviant. Being with PAS now, he is deviant," Rayer said, using the Malay term "sesat" which Umno and PAS leaders hurl against each other.