Former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in his usual frank-speaking style, but this time to Malaysiakini, after six years of waiting.

Via Malaysiakini:

But with Proton and the half-bridge … were you disappointed by the fact that there have been major changes to the basic policies that you conceived?

Yeah, I think that downgrading Proton … is something I did not expect […]

Are you disappointed in Abdullah Ahmad Badawi?

I am disappointed in what happened to Proton. And also to the half-bridge. […] In order to get Singapore to agree to a straight bridge, Malaysia agreed to supply Singapore with sand to the amount of one billion square metres…

[…]

Malaysia offered?

Malaysia offered, at 50 million square metres a year for 20 years. That will make Singapore one-and-a-half times its present size. It will be suitable for a population of, maybe, 10 million.

Who offered, actually?

The offer comes from Malaysia, as far as I can make out. You see, there are many people from Malaysia’s side - I think about 50 people - attended that meeting where the offer was made. From the Singapore side, also, about 50 people. This is public knowledge, actually. Lots of people who attended that meeting knew that the offer was made.

This was after 2003?

This was after the bridge was stopped in 2004. This is quite recent. Quite recent. The other offer was, of course, the air space, to be allowed.

So, it wasn’t Singapore that demanded this … it was offered (by Malaysia)?

Well, from the records, I think, from the people who talked about this thing - I’m quite sure they talked from proper records - this is Malaysia’s offer to persuade Singapore to build a straight bridge. Singapore doesn’t want to build a straight bridge. They agreed.

You have strong words about this particular leader, who you said was selling out the interests of Malaysia regarding this offer to sell sand. Who were you referring to?

Generally.

No one in particular?

No one. You have the right to do things in your own territory and the so-called crooked bridge is in Malaysia and Singapore has not made any objection. […]

Was this offer to sell massive amounts of sand based on commercial interests?

[…] I’m not interested in that aspect. What I’m interested in is that we should not build Singapore into a huge country and already it’s not a very friendly country with us.

But you know, Disneyland is coming soon and Malaysians are a bunch of loving and forgiving people.

Idiots? Void.

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