KUALA LUMPUR: In another attack against the opposition political forces in Malaysia, former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed has said the “hate tactics” against the government should be avoided. He urged Malaysians to disregard the opposition and throw their support behind the government ahead of elections. The government of Prime Minister Najib Razak must call new elections ahead of next April. Mahathir said opposition politicians are using the hate tactics as part of their attempts to take down the government. “They live on this hatred. If you look at the opposition, the main thing they do is to create hatred for the government,” he told reporters on Saturday. “Whatever good the Government does, they forget but focus on what is bad and make people hate the Government," he added. He cited Barisan Nasional's success in managing the country's economy towards achieving 5.4 percent growth despite the global recession as an example of Pakatan choosing to remain silent. But opposition leaders and officials, including youth activists who are hopeful that the upcoming general election can oust the ruling party, which has been in power since independence 6 decades ago, said the former prime minister's comments were “unacceptable.” “Malaysia is a democratic country and dissent and debate are part the political battle,” one activist, who is campaigning for opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, told Bikyamasr.com. “It is funny that Mahathir is attacking the opposition for this so-called hate, when the proof is that he is the only one being hateful,” said the activist, who was not authorized by any official opposition group to speak on their behalf. “If they mention that, then the people won't hate the Government. The idea is that you must hate the government which means hate the government, therefore vote for me (Pakatan)'," Mahathir added. He argued that PM Razak was strong and the party would continue to promote the best interests of the country.
