‘Only 1,200 detained’: Mahathir defends ISA record

Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad finds it hard to understand why he continues to be blamed for the arrest of scores of people under the Internal Security Act 1960 during his time as prime minister.

At a town hall session with youths in Petaling Jaya tonight, Mahathir pointed out how at least 2,000 people were detained during the 13-year tenure of the country's first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman.

He added that the same occurred when Abdul Razak Hussein and Hussein Onn served as prime ministers for six and five years respectively, with over 2,000 detained by each.

"I (led the country for) 22 years but only 1,200 people were detained.

"The strange thing is, no one is angry at them, but I am the one targeted despite fewer being arrested.

"I don't really understand this, because I did what they did, but why were they not targeted even though they were more bengis (ruthless) than I was?" Mahathir asked.

He was responding to a question by an audience member, who had asked why he had allowed Operasi Lalang to occur and whether he would have done things differently.

Mahathir said people were free to blame him, especially since the incident had already occurred.

"If I'm told that if I don't arrest and there will be violence, I will not be doing my duty if I don't arrest them. So I will have to arrest them."

The current Pakatan Harapan chairperson said people were free to accuse his administration of abuse of power, but nevertheless insisted that no such abuse occurred.

"Because they (the government) are entitled to arrest and detain people without trial," he noted, responding to a question of whether Harapan will abolish preventive laws.

Mahathir had previously accepted blame for the detentions of over 100 activists, journalists and opposition politicians during Operasi Lalang 30 years ago.

He had also expressed regret that some detainees were tortured during their incarceration under ISA.

However, Mahathir stopped short of apologising for the incident, insisting that the crackdown was not his decision.

Mahathir, who also served as home minister at the time, has repeatedly stated that Ops Lalang was conducted by the police, and that he was powerless to object to the detention order.- Mkini