PETALING JAYA (March 26): Former PAS life member Zainon Ismail, better known by his pen name CN Afghani, wishes to meet Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and apologise to him over his alleged plan to assassinate the ex-premier back in 1988.
Utusan Malaysia reported that Zainon, the author of the book Kafirkah Aku?, said the assassination was planned after the Amanat Hadi (PAS president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang's 1981 speech in which he branded Umno members as infidels), and now he was waiting for the opportune moment to meet with Mahathir to apologise.
"At that time, I was the Padang Terap PAS Youth chief. The plan came about because we wanted to implement an Islamic country easily, the election process was slow and we couldn't wait any longer.
"Apart from Dr Mahathir, we also had a list of cabinet ministers to be killed. To replace the ruling Barisan Nasional, we already had a shadow cabinet. We wanted (Hadi ) as prime minister. However, this plan failed after authorities got wind of it and 30 of my colleagues were caught," he was quoted as saying.
Meanwhile, Mahathir, commenting on Zainon's statement, said he was prepared to forgive anyone including Zainon, Utusan reported.
"I did not even realise there was a plan to kill me, that's why I'm not afraid of walking here and there. Only now I know that some people wanted to kill me.
"But I don't think anything of those who planned it. I always forgive everyone," said Mahathir.
In other news, Sinar Harian said Pakatan Rakyat foresaw difficulty in defeating the current Umno parliamentarian in Johor Bahru, even though it plans to field an influential figure in the seat.
"Johor Baru MP Tan Sri Shahrir Samad has a famous 'track record' and image that is good as well as strong in the political field there," it quoted Universiti Technology Malaysia lecturer Mohd Fauzi Othman as saying.
"Even the opposition's recent campaigning in Kampung Melayu Majidee is not significant and will not threaten the influence of voters. Besides, it only drew about 2,000 people," said Fauzi.