Ku Li: Dr M is the same man in a different shirt

KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is still the same man despite returning to helm the Government for the second time under a different party, said Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah.

The Umno veteran said the Dr Mahathir has never changed and remained the same as 23 years ago.

“He is still the same, but in a different shirt.

“He was like that 23 years ago, he was like that 22 years ago, I think he is like that now,” he said in between laughter.

On whether Dr Mahathir is no longer a dictator, Tengku Razaleigh said, “Just see the line-up of the party that was born only a few years ago, but heads the government in Kedah, Perak, Johor and elsewhere, and see the number of seats they have in cabinet.”

On Umno vice-president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is assuming the duties of president, meeting Dr Mahathir recently, Tengku Razaleigh said many people asked why the Bagan Datuk MP did that.

“I cannot comment as it is up to him (Zahid),” he said.

However, when asked whether he would have met Dr Mahathir, if he was the interim president, Tengku Razaleigh said “Why should I if I’m heading a different party that he is not in favour of. He left our party. Why must I go crawling to him?”