Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has demonstrated a gentleman’s approach to attacks by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and remained civil despite having to face dirty tactics, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak.

On the contrary, he said Dr Mahathir had committed personal attacks, insults, slander and vilification against the Prime Minister that went beyond politics and even beyond basis human decency while Islam regarded slander as a severe crime.

He said it was normal to have differences of opinion in politics, and it was also normal to openly express these differences.

“That is the bedrock of democracy and freedom of expression is part and parcel of democracy. But what Mahathir is doing cannot be called democracy or freedom of expression,” he said in his blog today.

Salleh said the country has laws against criminal defamation and slandering someone is a crime but Dr Mahathir appeared to have no respect or regard for the law.

“He makes disparaging statements against Najib and accuses Najib of all sorts of things.This is very irresponsible for someone who used to be Malaysia’s prime minister and he is setting a bad example for the youth,” he said.

Salleh said the Malays have what is called “adab” or manners.

“We must refrain from bringing the level of politics down to gutter politics where anything goes and slander becomes the new political culture in Malaysia,” he added. - Bernama