Tun M admits to marginalising east coast states

PUTRAJAYA - Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad recently admitted his mistake of marginalising the east coast states while he was the fourth Prime Minister.

Dr Mahathir was speaking at a talk held at the Perdana Leadership Foundation.

He said his involvement as an unofficial advisor to the four state governments under Pas (SG4) was a means of rectifying his wrongdoings.

“I admit I was wrong, while I was the Prime Minister I was from a party that was enemies with Pas who governed the east coast states,” he said on Wednesday.

Dr Mahathir said while he held the reigns of the Federal administration, his focus was only on the states that were in the west coast.

“That’s why they (east coast states) were not successful. I think it’s time for me to correct the sins of my past,” he said when answering a question from an attendee of the talk, regarding his involvement in SG4 whether it was for Malays, governance or to contribute ideas in developing Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah and Perlis.

He added with his experience, he hoped that he could help to further develop the states under the Pas administration.

“I hope with this experience I can help them achieve success.” he said.

Previously, Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar announced that Kedah, Kelantan, Terengganu and Perlis were in the process of forming the ‘group of four states’ with Dr Mahathir as the unofficial advisor.

Muafakat Nasional (MN) deputy president Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin described Mahathir’s appointment as something that should be celebrated and not denounced by political enemies.