BARRY WAIN
By Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
1. After the forum held by the University of Malaya to discuss
the book by Barry Wain entitled "Malaysian Maverick: Mahathir
Mohamad in Turbulent Times", during which I was condemned for all
kinds of misdeeds, many have asked me to sue the author. In fact
even before the book was allowed to be sold in Malaysia, many who
took exception to Barry Wain's vilification of my stint as the
Prime Minister of Malaysia, many, including the Press have asked me
to sue the author.
2. My view is that a politician must accept all the opinions for
or against him as normal. They go with the job.
3. I am leery of politicians who sue their critics. I suspect
that what they want is to make the issue sub-judice so as to
prevent the critics from attacking them on the issue.
This is a
cowardly move and in fact proves that the criticisms are fully
justified.
4. A politician who is convinced of his own integrity and
innocence should be able to fend off the attacks by proving that
they have no basis in fact. It is up to the people, after hearing
both sides to decide on the matter. Shutting the mouth of the
critics by abusing the authority of the court of law is no better
than Governments which censor or shut down papers which are
critical of them. Those who resort to this trick to shut the mouths
of their critics are in fact showing the kind of leader they would
make if they come to power.
5. Malaysians should be discerning enough to recognise such
politicians who are fond of accusing others of misdeeds but who are
in fact already abusing whatever little power they may have at
their disposal.
6. Barry Wain and his people can say what they like. The people
in this country can decide whether it is just arrogance or whether
their accusations are what they say they are. I will have my say if
I think it necessary.
http://chedet.co.cc/chedetblog/2010/06/barry-wain.html