“When I was PM and Aung (Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi) got arrested, I wrote a letter and sent someone to meet her.

“I personally met with an envoy from Myanmar and brought him to show how democracy can work because at that level we don’t have to resort to demonstrations,” he said at a press conference in conjunction with the DAP national conference here today.

He said demonstrations were reserved for those who were against the government, not for the government itself.

“I demonstrate now but that is because I’m not in the government anymore.”

Mahathir was responding to whether or not Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) had received an invitation to the protest rally held at the Stadium Titiwangsa in Kuala Lumpur as was previously reported. The former PM is PPBM chairman.

Also present at the DAP national conference were the leaders of Pakatan Harapan – Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. Both leaders denied receiving any invitation to the Rohingya protest rally today, too.

“PKR did not get any specific invite. We are aware of it because it was just asked openly,” Wan Azizah said.

She also agreed with Mahathir that there was no need for the prime minister to demonstrate.

“He has powers as the head of the government. He should make a statement and adopt a government to government approach.”