Laws not for clamping down on opposition, Mahathir responds to Fahmi's outburst

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad today said that the government appeared to have become increasingly aggressive against its critics despite long championing freedom of speech, following an outburst by Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil during a live TikTok session. 

He also said that laws were made to prevent crime, not to clamp down on opposition parties. 

"Supposedly there is freedom of speech. He can say all sorts of things to the Malays, but if we want to say anything about the welfare of the Malays, we are called racist."

Fahmi had told critics during the TikTok session that those who made such statements were being monitored by the authorities. 

"Don't get upset with me if there is a call or a radio car outside of your house. We are monitoring, behave yourself," he said.

Speaking at KLIA after returning from an overseas trip, Mahathir said the people would be watching what he described as the government's move to restrict freedom of speech. 

"He wants to misuse the law, that is what we are seeing," he added. 

Mahathir, the former Langkawi MP, also said that he would not contest the upcoming state elections. 

He said he was ready to meet with Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin in the near future.