Aziz Bari: Dr M can't say he acted on police advice

PETALING JAYA: It is constitutionally wrong for former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to keep saying that he acted on the advice of the police in relation to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy case and Ops Lalang, says a constitutional law expert.

"It is better morally to admit that he has misjudged and (was) wrongly advised," said Dr Abdul Aziz Bari in a statement on Thursday.

"He must remember that in a parliamentary system of government like ours, it is the sitting government which has the final say and eventually takes the blame," he said, adding that cases like Anwar's sodomy case and Ops Lalang needed "green light or political approval".

He said Dr Mahathir was "playing politics" but in the process "has made a fool of himself".

"Anyway, should Pakatan Harapan come to power, a reconciliation committee has to be set up to clear all the facts.

"In the meantime, the police must come forward to clear the air ... since Mahathir has pointed his finger at them, the force must answer," he said.

Dr Aziz said the main principle in a democracy is that an elected or sitting government is the one that makes critical decisions.

"The military and the police as part of the public service, just advise and enforce decisions," he said.

Dr Aziz said that because the military and the police are not elected, they cannot be made responsible to Parliament.

As such, he said they can't be the ones who make the final decision.

"Whatever the case, Mahathir remains the one responsible for those things.

"It appears on these issues, he (is) no longer able to apply selective amnesia like before, but the time will come for him to pay back what he did," said Dr Aziz.