Dr M: Opposition may use violence to win GE

KUALA LUMPUR: Leaders of the opposition party may resort to using prolonged violent demonstrations to win the 13th general election as the democratic approach would not yield them victory going by past election results, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

He said Malaysians and foreign observers had admitted the election process could not bring down Barisan the Nasional (BN).

"The majority of Malaysians will give victory to the BN, as all accepted the fact that the BN government has brought much development and benefits to the people.

"BN has succeeded in bringing peace and prosperity to the country.

"Every Malaysian has attained a better life and is happier under the BN administration," he said in his blog chedet.cc.

Dr Mahathir said all attempts by the opposition parties to reduce support and good perception of BN and its administration had failed. Therefore, he said, the Bersih electoral reform movement was created with huge and violent demonstrations as preparation to reject the general election results if the opposition failed to win.

"Their defeat would be followed by continuous violent demonstration so that the election results can be rejected and another government set up at the behest of the opposition.

"Later they would try to hold an election again which can be manipulated by them," he said.

Dr Mahathir said it was obvious that before the elected government could be brought down, the country would be repeatedly attacked with violent demonstrations and riots and business would be interrupted with strikes. Bernama