Scrap 3R laws, let the people speak
He argued that shutting down criticism only isolates leaders from the realities faced by the public. A long-time critic of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's administration, Tun Mahathir said the continued use of 3R laws — now and during Datuk Seri Najib Razak's time — has hindered open criticism and weakened democratic discourse.
'I must know what the people are thinking. If their mouths are kept closed, they might have a bad opinion of you, but you feel that they are okay.
'When you do not respond to the problems and feelings (expressed by the people), then the country cannot become developed, we need freedom of speech,' he reportedly said at a dialogue session in conjunction with the launch of his latest book 'A Conversation with Tun Dr Mahathir bin Mohamad: A Legacy of Leadership and Vision' in Putrajaya.
Although Mahathir, who turns 100 this July, brushed off the idea of leading the country again, he expressed a willingness to offer guidance if the current government is open to hearing him out.
'If I become Prime Minister again, God forbid, I know a few things I should do.
'Even if I am not the Prime Minister, if the government is willing to listen to this old man, I am willing to give some ideas,' he added during the event, which was moderated by Perdana Leadership Foundation trustee Vaseehar Hassan and economist Muhammed Abdul Khalid.
A long-time critic of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's administration, Tun Mahathir said the continued use of 3R laws — now and during Datuk Seri Najib Razak's time — has hindered open criticism and weakened democratic discourse.
'You need the Opposition to point out where you have gone wrong. If we have a one-party state where that party is carried by its own ideas, they will have no way of knowing when a mistake has been made and correcting it.
'The management of a nation hinges on the freedom to exchange ideas. Leaders must respond to the realities around them to determine the best path forward,' he reportedly said.
When asked about the possibility of Najib returning as prime minister, Mahathir rejected the idea outright, citing the former premier's leadership style and alleged tolerance for corruption.
'(Before Najib assumed the role of Umno President), Umno had its own objectives, principally to struggle for the betterment of the people, country and religion. Under Najib, instead of focusing on (such struggles), he brought in another different objective; he was talking about 'cash is king'.
'(Najib's objective) says corruption is alright, that this country can be ruled by corrupt practices, that you can become a Prime Minister simply by offering money. I do not think (Najib) would have changed much.
'He would still be thinking that the best way to become the Prime Minister is to give money to the people. If you do not have the money, then you can borrow it (before) stealing it. To me, that is not acceptable.
'If (Najib) does come back, I think he should just apologise and say 'sorry, I made a mistake,'' he said.
The former Pekan MP is currently serving a prison sentence after the Federal Court in 2022 upheld his convictions in the SRC International case, part of the wider 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.
Though originally sentenced to 12 years and fined RM210 million, the Pardons Board reduced his sentence in February 2023 to six years and RM50 million.
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