CRITICISMS DON'T MEAN I DON'T SUPPORT GOVT - TUN M

KUALA LUMPUR, July 10 (Bernama) -- Former prime minister Dr Mahathir
Mohamad said although he often criticised the Malaysian government, it did not
mean that he was not supporting the administration.

On the contrary, he said, the criticisms made were based on his personal
observation and he had the right to have an opinion on certain issues.

"So far, (there are) so many things I do not agree with. That is my personal
opinion, I am entitled to have my opinion, but it does not mean I do not support
the government," he said when asked for his opinion on the administration of
Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak on his first 100 days in office.

Commenting on the matter, Dr Mahathir, when met after delivering his keynote
address at the Discourse on the Institution of the Monarchy and the Malays in
the Federal Constitution from the 1Malaysia Perspective, here Friday, said,
however, that he could not make an evaluation of the Najib administration yet.

"I haven't made a study yet...not a scientific study," he said.

Asked to comment on the positive aspects of Najib's administration, Dr
Mahathir said among the things that deserved praise was his approach in going to
the ground and meeting the grassroots.


"There are (positive aspects), he (Najib) meets more people, he doesn't
sleep. These are all positive (aspects)," he said.

On the negative side, Dr Mahathir said these included the proposal on the
third bridge to Singapore and the failure of the government to tackle corruption
in the government when there were still individuals who were found guilty of
corrupt practices still holding position in the cabinet.

Meanwhile, Dr Mahathir said the claim by certain groups that the New
Economic Policy (NEP) posed an obstacle to the economic growth of the people was
not right.

Dr Mahathir, who was also a former finance minister, said the policy which
was introduced 38 years ago was not a reason for the slow economic growth. On
the other hand, the open policy adopted by certain countries on foreign direct
investment (FDI) and the world economic recession had influenced the growth of
the local economy.

Meanwhile the fourth Malaysian prime minister, who celebrates his 84th
birthday Friday, shared his wish with the people: "My wish is to see Malaysia
where people think they are Malaysians and not linked to anywhere else".

Meanwhile, former prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, when commenting
on Najib's first 100 days as prime minister, said he was happy that Najib's
leadership was getting more acceptance from the people.

"Alhamdulillah (Praise to God), because the support given to him was growing
from 42 per cent before he took the oath of office to 65 per cent (based on a
survey by Merdeka Centre, a local research centre).

"This means that he had succeeded in leading the country with the policies
announced by him from time to time.

"Consequently, these policies will receive public scrutiny in terms of their
implementation. I hope they can be defended," he said.

-- BERNAMA