Headline MIC: Dr Ms backtracking no surprise any more MediaTitle New Straits Times (Sabah) Date 08 Jun 2017 Language English Circulation 24,000 Readership 72,000 Section News Color Black/white Page No 8 ArticleSize 142 cm² AdValue RM 437 PR Value RM 1,311 MIC: Dr Ms backtracking no surprise any more KUALA LUMPUR: Tun Dr Mahathir and... create an unequal situation Mohamad has made yet another between China and the rest," he U­turn by asking Asian countries was quoted as saying. to form an economic pact with Malaysia is one of three South­ China, said MIC treasurer­general east Asian countries in TPP, Datuk Seri S. Veil Paari. which has 11 members after the He said this was because the US's withdrawal. former prime minister had pre­ Veil Paari also described Dr viously criticised China for in­ Mahathir as a "flip­flop" politi­ vesting in Malaysia's Forest City cian who allegedly changed his and Tun Razak Exchange devel­ stance on the IMalaysia People's opment projects. Aid scheme and Good and Ser­ "What Dr Mahathir said comes vices Tax, among others. as no surprise. He has been "I'm sure he's aware he has been changing his stand on issues. flip­flopping... but he does not "This started 18 months ago care what the public thinks of him when he started attacking Prime as long as he gets to bring down a Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak," democratically elected leader." Veil Paari told the New Straits Universiti Utara Malaysia po­ Times yesterday. litical pundit Professor Dr Az­ Speaking at the 23rd Interna­ izuddin Mohd Sani said he was tional Conference on the Future not surprised by Dr Mahathir's of Asia yesterday, Dr Mahathir shifting stance on China. suggested members of the "He says what he feels is con­ Trans­Pacific Partnership (TPP) venient to him and depending on agreement invite China as a which side he takes." member following the withdrawal Umno information chief Tan Sri of the United States. Annuar Musa said Dr Mahathir "Without the US, countries can was an example of a leader who think of new ways to cooperate practised "Machiavellian politics". with each other more equitably. "He will keep making U­turns "To exclude China is to ignore and contradictions... so much so the role it plays in this region that they will become irrelevant.".