Ops Lalang not decision of one man, says Patriots Association

PETALING JAYA: The National Association of Patriots (PPK) says it is “morally, ethically and factually wrong” to place all the blame for Ops Lallang in 1987 on the then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

PPK, whose members comprised retired military and police officers, said the decision to activate Ops Lallang was certainly not taken by one man.

“Decisions of such gravity are taken upon the advice of the Royal Malaysia Police, the Special Branch in particular and other intelligence agencies given to the prime minister and his cabinet members.

“Most of our Persatuan Patriot Kebangsaan members were in active service at the time when Ops Lalang was launched. We were cognisant and of clear conscience on the need and justifications for Ops Lalang.

“We do not deny that the operation was hard, and for some, it came across as being ‘nasty’.

“But it had to be done at a time when the nation was going through a tumultuous period of political instability that threatened the peace and security of the country and its people,” PPK president Brig Gen (Rtd) Mohamed Arshad Raji said in a statement.

He was responding to Suaram adviser Kua Kia Soong’s challenge to Pakatan Harapan (PH) leaders to state their position on Mahathir’s denial that he was responsible for Ops Lalang.

Mahathir is chairman of PH as well as Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM).

During Ops Lallang, launched on Oct 27, 1987 ostensibly to prevent racial clashes, a total of 106 people were arrested, mostly political figures and activists.

Mahathir, who was then also the home minister, was alleged to have approved the crackdown to cover up his own party troubles in Umno after narrowly defending his presidency.

A day after the arrests, the home ministry withdrew the licences of four newspapers – The Star and Sunday Star, Sin Chew Jit Poh and Watan.

Mohamed Arshad reminded Kua that Mahathir was reported by Malay Mail last Feb 18 as saying, “Even if the decision was made by somebody else, the cabinet and I accept responsibility”.

“As a leader of the nation, Tun had the moral standing to declare that he has accepted responsibility for Ops Lalang,” he added.

Mohamed Arshad said PPK opposed any attempt by anyone in trying to “revisit” a 30-year-old security crackdown by the government at that time on political figures and activists.

“At a time when our society is in a mood to forgive and forget, fostering unity to build a new Malaysia, any attempt to open old wounds is deemed to (be) sabotaging the aspirations of the people.

“What had occurred in the past…was clearly a measure taken to secure the big picture for a progressive, peaceful nation.”

Mohamed Arshad said the country was now beset by “so much moral decadence, ethnic animosity, religious bigotry, and above all the humongous national debts and mismanagement of our economy.

“We believe, and with reasons too, that focusing our attention and energies on what is happening currently to the nation is a proactive measure that weighs on the shoulders of all responsible, caring citizens and leaders.

“The call of duty to nation, king and democracy demands our collaborative understanding in view of the many troubling issues confronting the nation today.”

Mohamed Arshad invited Kua to an open dialogue if it would help bridge his imagined or real concerns. -FMT