Jeffrey, who was detained under the draconian law on May 13, 1991, considers himself as one of Mahathir’s political detainees even though at the time, he was not even a politician.
“I was not just an activist who was against Kuala Lumpur’s oppression and unfair treatment of Sabah under Mahathir.
“Mahathir didn’t like me raising the issue of Sabah’s Rights under the 20 Points and accused me of trying to take Sabah out of Malaysia to justify his use of ISA,” Jeffrey told FMT.
Jeffrey, who was executive chairman of the Institute for Development Studies (IDS) at the time, a Sabah state government think tank, was first charged in a high court with seven counts of corruption over alleged links to the export of timber.
However, Mahathir had reportedly denied that the action taken by the authorities against Jeffrey was politically-motivated.
During his 22-year tenure as prime minister, Mahathir had been accused of using the ISA, the Inland Revenue Department and the then Anti-Corruption Agency to subjugate his political enemies and dissenters.
Jeffrey’s detention was the culmination of Operation Talkak which also saw five PBS members and one police officer roped in under the ISA.
“Of course, as the prime minister and home minister, he ultimately decides and should rightfully take the blame,” he said.
Jeffrey was responding to a recent blog post by the PPBM chairman, who said he accepted the blame after finding out recently that some of those arrested under the infamous Ops Lalang in October 1987 were tortured.
Mahathir had said that he accepted the blame but denied it was his decision that led to the arrests of over 100 activists, politicians and academics.
The Pakatan Harapan chairman also defended himself by saying that people had been detained under the ISA during the tenures of all three prime ministers before him.
“I was detained for two years and seven months. I suffered, my family suffered, my marriage broke up, Sabahans suffered, the PBS government was bullied till it collapsed.
“There was oppression and suppression of voices of dissent. Mahathir brought Umno to seize power in Sabah.
“He even offered me to be the chief minister in place of my brother Joseph Pairin Kitingan but I declined because I thought it wasn’t right. Besides, I would end up being Kuala Lumpur’s puppet,” Jeffrey said.
He lamented that the current political state of Sabah, being what he termed as “colonised under Umno” is the direct result of Mahathir’s decision in 1991.
He accused Mahathir of being a proponent of a unitary Malaysia and not a federal system.
“He wants everything to be centralised, even land. He was against state rights. The irony is, today, he speaks of his willingness to respect and restore Sabah’s rights. Is he serious or just playing politics?” Jeffrey asked.
Nonetheless, Jeffrey said Mahathir can still redeem himself and atone for his past actions against the Borneo states.
Firstly, he said as the chairman of PH, Mahathir can put up a motion to reactivate the Intergovernmental Committee Report and review the Malaysia Agreement.
Secondly and more importantly, he said Mahathir should compensate Sabah and the ISA detainees for their sufferings as a consequence of his past actions.
Finally, Jeffrey who has always blamed Mahathir for Sabah’s changed demographics due to Projek IC, said Mahathir must undo the project once and for all.
“By ‘undoing’ this, it could include finding solutions, including perhaps, having them (illegals) placed in Kedah?” he remarked.
Operation Lalang detainees expect full public apologies from Dr Mahathir