Part 1: Dr M: He made some wrong moves
Malaysiakini – 23/5/2006
Former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who led the nation for 22 years, is disappointed with certain decisions made by his handpicked successor who took over the reins three years ago. 

However, when asked, he refused to rate the performance of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, citing possible negative effects. 

“I don’t like to pass opinions on the present government’s performance because that may have negative effects, so I just will miss out on that. That is my answer,” he told malaysiakini editors during a 45-minute interview last week. 

As for his disappointments with the current administration, Proton and the half-bridge project topped the list. 

“I am disappointed in what happened to Proton and also to the half-bridge,” he said in reference to the national carmaker and a new bridge to Singapore - projects conceived during his tenure. 

He also revealed that it was the Malaysian government, and not Singapore, that had offered to sell sand as well as the use of Johor’s airspace to the island state. 

Mahathir argued that the offers were made at a meeting in 2004 between the two nations to get Singapore’s agreement to the building of a straight bridge. 

The sale of sand, in particular, was to the tune of one billion square metres, or 50 million square metres a year for 20 years, he said. 

“That will make Singapore one-and-a-half times its present size. It will be suitable for a population of, maybe, 10 million,” he added. 

Historical ‘mistake’ 

His statement contradicted that of deputy prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, who in late April said the offers were conditions set by Singapore for the construction of the bridge.
“From the records, I think, from the people who talked about this thing - I’m quite sure they talked from proper records - this is Malaysia’s offer to persuade Singapore to build a straight bridge. 

“When Johor got to know about this offer, Johor protested. They did not want to supply sand to Singapore. They did not want their airspace full of warplanes from Singapore,” said Mahathir. 

Mahathir, who in 1997 had stopped the sale of sand to and the use of Malaysian airspace by Singapore, compared the offer to Malaya’s historical ‘mistake’ of selling Singapore and Penang to the British colonialists. 

He cited environmental damage and the destruction of Malaysian fish-breeding areas, as well as the prospect of contributing to the strengthening of an ‘unfriendly’ neighbour. 

Just as Malaya was ‘cheated’ into selling Singapore to the British for RM60,000 and Penang for RM10,000 then, the present government was selling sand - ‘a part of Malaysia’ - to Singapore, claimed Mahathir. 

“We should not build Singapore into a huge country. (Even with its present size), already it’s not a very friendly country with us,” he said. 

Responding to questions on a separate matter, Mahathir described Gevi SpA - the company that bought Proton’s motorcycle arm MV Agusta Motors - as a two euro company. 

The former premier said he did some checks on the company and found that it was set up specifically to buy Agusta. 

“Why are these Italians setting up this company to buy up Agusta long before we know Agusta is up for sale? How did they identify these people? How did they offer this company so much? Is this company involved in the automotive industry?” he asked. 

Gevi SpA bought Proton’s 57 percent share in Italian motorcycle maker Agusta last December for a nominal sum of one euro (RM4.55). 

Mahathir, who spoke to malaysiakini editors at his office in Petronas Twin Towers on May 16, began the interview by declaring his dislike of the six-year-old online daily because “it was very critical” of him.

Malaysiakini is running the interview in three parts beginning today.
Source: www.malaysiakini.com