Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad attends a news conference in Menara Yayasan Selangor May 12, 2018. — Picture by Azinuddin Ghazali

PETALING JAYA, May 23 — Veteran journalist Datuk A. Kadir Jasin has slammed “hypocrites and backstabbers” who were now making a comeback after previously shunning Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad during Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s administration.

In a highly critical posting on his personal blog, the former New Straits Times group chief editor warned that there was a price to pay for their dalliance and their multi-billion-ringgit projects, contracts and concessions.

Kadir pointed out while the government may need to continue working with these people, it must also be fair to the many struggling businessmen and women who fearlessly supported the Pakatan Harapan (PH) cause.

“They should never be sidelined in favour of the fat cats and top dogs of the central business district,” he said.

Kadir, who was appointed official spokesman for the Council of Eminent Persons, also reminded his readers that the sacrifices and bravery of these people must not be forgotten and the new federal government must endeavour to help genuine businessmen flourish.

Kadir’s comments came as an observation and personal opinion piece about certain people who attended a breaking of fast reception last night at the Perdana Leadership Foundation, where Dr Mahathir is the honorary president.

He said that among those who attended were people who owed their success to Dr Mahathir, but had shunned him after he retired from the government.

“When Dr Mahathir was in power, they celebrated him as if he was a ‘Tua Pek Kong’ and man of miracles,” he said, referring to one of the Chinese Gods of Wealth.

“He was lavishly praised and even more lavishly feasted. But when he left office, many of these people abandoned him,” wrote Kadir, adding that the situation became worse when Dr Mahathir joined and led the Opposition coalition to oust Najib.

“The mere mention of Dr Mahathir caused them to cringe. Their fear of the government was childlike,” said Kadir, maintaining that his post was not related to whatever position he held.

He also touched on the alleged use of spiritual forces by those who were in power to instil fear in their followers.

“It appears as if the puja of the ‘pawang buaya’ and the priest from Sri Lanka had been put on them,” he wrote in reference to spiritual worship and rituals.