Dr Mahathir tells government not to be soft anymore

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad has urged the government to no longer be soft towards the opposition who continue to insult the nation's democratic system.

"We need to be a bit tough and not give them face," he told reporters after attending a dinner in conjunction with Langkawi International Dialogue (LID) 2013 here today.

He said the opposition who wanted to recognise the people's choice changed overnight when they failed to get majority support in the 13th general election (GE13).

"Initially, they wanted to recognise the people's choice but now they want to topple the government. They reject the democratic system and opt for street demonstration."

LID 2013 which began since Sunday, was participated by six countries - Namibia, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Lesotho and Botswana. In his speech entitled "Transforming A Nation: The Malaysian Experience", Dr Mahathir said proper implementation and coordination by the government benefited the people and the nation's economy.

Initiatives undertaken by the Economy Planning Unit (EPU) and the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU) had enhanced Malaysia's competitiveness and economic opportunities.

"During my time, I instructed all the ministers to go to the ground to make sure all the planning were done accordingly," said Dr Mahathir.

Government strategies include providing incentives to local companies and tax free holiday to investors to encourage more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

"When we (Malaysia) have more inflow in FDI, the employment rate increases. The FDI also stimulates our economy," he added.