Bersih 4: Dr Mahathir’s presence at rally disappointing, says Salleh

SABAK BERNAM: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s presence at the Bersih 4 rally is disappointing and suggests that the former premier has changed his stance and now agrees with street protests, said Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak (pic)‎.

“For me, Tun Dr Mahathir’s presence at the rally shows that he agrees with Bersih and what they do. That encourages people to participate in street demonstrations.

“It means that he has changed his stance,” Salleh said when met after opening the Sungai Besar Umno division meeting here Sunday.

The Communications and Multimedia Minister said that in 1998, when there were protests over former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sacking, Dr Mahathir had labelled street demonstrations as foreign to Malaysia.

On Saturday evening, Tun Dr Mahathir and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali joined Bersih 4 participants at Dataran Merdeka.

They made a surprise visit at about 7.30pm and were greeted by hundreds of the protesters.

For full coverage of Bersih go to http://www.thestar.com.my/bersih4/