Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad made a strange confession today. He confessed that it cost hundreds of millions to win a general election. In fact, Mukhriz Mahathir said that the total actually comes to RM1.5 billion, which was also what the opposition alleged Mahathir had spent in the 1999 general election.
In 1999, businessmen known to be loyal to Anwar Ibrahim or to the opposition complained that they were facing discrimination and persecution. They alleged that Mahathir's government was forcing them to sell their companies or banks and that they suffered blacklisting by government departments and ministries.
The way Mahathir is grumbling, he gives an impression that those who support the opposition are dishonest people who cheat the government by evading tax. That is why all the opposition supporters or financiers are being subjected to investigation involving income tax evasion.
Mahathir also says Najib won the 1999 general election because of the 2,000 military votes. Mahathir was also accused of winning his seat in the 1999 general election with 2,000 phantom votes. When the press asked him about this allegation during a press conference in the early hours of 30th November 1999, Mahathir never denied it and replied, "Even the opposition does the same thing."
