He said the move showed that the former prime minister had gone against his principles because previously during his 22-year rule he had disallowed meetings between the opposition and foreign envoys in the country.
“I still remember that he would get very upset if the opposition wanted to discuss bilateral relations with foreign ambassadors… even if there was no political agenda,” Hishammuddin said.
“But now he (Dr Mahathir) is doing it. He does not walk the talk,” he said in commenting on the PPBM chairman’s move in urging the ambassadors to pressure Prime Minister Najib Razak to ensure that the 14th general election (GE14) is conducted fairly.
The defence minister, who is also a minister with special functions, said this at a press conference after officiating a ground-breaking ceremony for Sekolah Agama Kerajaan Johor (SAKJ) Fasa 5, SAKJ Taman Sri Lambak and SAKJ Paloh 2, here today.
Hishammuddin, who was youth and sports minister in the Mahathir-led cabinet from 1999 until Mahathir’s retirement in 2003, claimed that foreign envoys were also prevented from holding meetings with cabinet ministers to discuss bilateral issues during his time.
“Though it was clearly stated that political matters would not be discussed, it was still forbidden,” he said.
Fourteen ambassadors and three charges d’affaires of EU countries were present during the two-hour meeting at the residence of the head of delegation of the EU to Malaysia, Maria Castillo Fernández.
In the meeting, PH also urged the European countries to appeal to the Malaysian government to allow them to send international election observers to GE14.
Mahathir, 92, was accompanied by PH deputy president and Amanah president Mohamad Sabu and PH chief secretary Saifuddin Abdullah.
Also present were DAP chairman Tan Kok Wai, PKR vice-president Xavier Jayakumar and PPBM vice-president Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, who is a former Election Commission chairman.
Mahathir was announced as PH’s candidate for prime minister in the event it wins GE14, during the opposition pact’s annual convention on Jan 7.