'Dr M out to destroy the nation'

PAS vice president Salahuddin Ayub has blasted former UMNO strongman Dr Mahathir Mohamad over the latter's insinuation of racial conflicts should DAP advisor Lim Kit Siang win in Gelang Patah.

“If the country is destroyed by race confrontation owing to his indirect instigation, Mahathir must be held responsible.

"If May 13, 1969 racial riots happen again, Mahathir is the culprit,” said Salahuddin.

Salahuddin said the former prime minister's statement was yet another proof that UMNO was now stepping up its racially-charged rhetoric to win the next general election.

Mahathir wrote on his blog that racial harmony would end if Lim wins in Gelang Patah, Johor, where several Pakatan Rakyat leaders including Salahuddin have been transfered to fight the coming polls.

“An unhealthy racial confrontation would replace Sino-Malay cooperation which has made Malaysia stable and prosperous. That cooperation will end when Kit Siang wins Gelang Patah,” he wrote.

But Salahuddin said Mahathir could only think from "UMNO’s racist mindset".

Defending Lim’s decision to contest in Johor, Salahuddin said it was realising the late UMNO founder Onn Jaafar's aspiration for Malaysian unity beyond race.

Onn's proposal that UMNO open-up its membership to other races had led to his dismissal from the party. -HD