Bersih 4: Tun Mahathir takes another walkabout in the city

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and wife, Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali this afternoon spent some time walking about near Central Market to observe the ongoing Bersih 4 rally.

This is the second day that the couple decided to take a stroll in the nation’s capital in light of the rally.

The former premier and his wife took the KTM Komuter from a location in the city before alighting at the Kuala Lumpur station and then proceeded towards Central Market.

Yesterday, Dr Mahathir and Dr Siti Hasmah made an appearance in front of the Panggung Bandaraya around 7.25pm.

The couple’s arrival was met with a rousing welcome by the crowd who also took the opportunity to snap photos with them.

When asked why he decided to attend the rally, Dr Mahathir said he ‘just came to observe’.

Meanwhile, the event organisers welcomed the couple’s presence as participants of the rally.

Bersih 2.0 chairman Maria Chin Abdullah today said, she at first didn’t realise Dr Mahathir’s arrival yesterday as he came while the Muslim participants were performing their Maghrib prayers.

“We didn’t know that Tun M came yesterday as we were in the midst of Maghrib prayers. But we accept him as a (rally) participant.

“We accept anyone who come for the rally. And we will treat him as a participant,” she said.

However, Dr Mahathir’s move had been criticised by several UMNO leaders.

UMNO Supreme Council member Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, in expressing his regret, had said the former premier attending the rally is akin to conspiring with the Opposition.

Tajuddin had also said that Dr Mahathir should not be invited to the upcoming UMNO general assembly this year-end, as it would only create negative perceptions among party members.

Today, another UMNO Supreme Council member, Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob also expressed disappointment towards Dr Mahathir’s appearance at Bersih 4, saying the latter had always been a staunch opponent of street demonstrations.