In a tit-for-tat, DAP chairperson and Bukit Gelugor MP Karpal Singh has called on former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad to behave as a true statesman and shut up.

Describing Dr Mahathir as in his “twilight years and over the hill”, Karpal said he should used the years ahead to repent for wrongdoings.

“He has done many wrongs (in his term as a premier) and he should use the years ahead of him to bertaubat (repent) on how he has wronged the country and the rakyat over the years,” he said.

“...As a prime minister, he was stubborn and he should not behave like that."

Karpal said Mahathir should not meddle in Pakatan Rakyat’s affairs.

He was asked to comment on Mahathir’s blog posting yesterday.

In it, Mahathir chedet mahathir blog 020508 had written that Karpal should be happy with the new PAS leadership line-up as this appears to move closer to the DAP's 'welfare state' proposal, rather than dwell on creating an Islamic state in Malaysia.

Karpal said Mahathir should remember that some time in 2001 at a Gerakan gathering, the latter had described Malaysia as "negara Islam" .

“The statement in his blog is unnecessary as he had said this first in 2001, lest he forgets,” said Karpal.

He lauded PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang’s move to take the party  towards a “welfare state” policy.

“This is something which all Muslims and non-Muslims would like to see and something to strive for, for the benefit of Muslims and non-Muslims.”

“This is also something we (Pakatan Rakyat) would like to strive for.”