KUALA LUMPUR: Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali appeared to have forgiven former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for all the attacks he made against the opposition during his 21-year premiership.

Azmin said, despite criticisms made against Dr Mahathir, the longest-serving prime minister had never avoided his critics.

“This is his strength. He’s ready to face anything including his critics. Not everyone has this kind of strength.

“As a leader, we can’t just meet up with our supporters. This is a good tradition and we want more leaders who are willing to listen to various opinions.

“We may not agree with him (Dr Mahathir) but we can’t deny the fact that he is ready to meet up with his critics anytime,” he said when met at Pavilion Mall during the signing of his newly-published book “Membangun Bangsa – Catatan Permulaan Tentang Etika, Urus Tadbir dan Kenegaraan”.

Azmin said this when asked for his comments regarding today’s Reformis Malaysia convention held in Shah Alam, where Dr Mahathir made a surprise appearance.

Dr Mahathir’s attendance at the event was somewhat unwelcome and it was evident when the audience began shouting “Reformasi” (Reformation) and “Bebas Anwar” (Free Anwar), with a few shouts of “firaun” (pharoah).

However, in defense of Dr Mahathir, Azmin said the former’s courage should be respected as not many leaders are willing to come face to face with their detractors.

“Mahathir was even willing to go to the court and meet his former deputy (Anwar) whom he sacked (from the Cabinet).

“To me this is a strength and not a weakness,” Azmin added.

During the opening speech, Otai Reformis 1998 chairperson Saari Sungib said they would only accept Dr Mahathir if he joins their campaign to free Anwar and if he apologises for what he had done during his reign as prime minister.

Incarcerated opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who was Dr Mahathir’s deputy prime minister, was removed from government and as Umno deputy president in 1998 and was later imprisoned on sodomy charges.

Anwar’s supporters have long blamed Dr Mahathir for his fall from power and incarceration.

At the convention, Dr Mahathir, now the Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman said he was aware that many of Anwar’s supporters dislike him.

However, he stressed that his intention of being present at the convention was to highlight the need for everyone in the opposition pact to stand united for the coming polls.

He said once the opposition wins the 14th General Election, then subsequently Anwar’s supporters could decide on taking action against him.

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd