Former Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad has raised concerns over the Malaysian government’s aggressive actions against GlSB Holdings Sdn Bhd (GISBH), questioning whether the response is aimed at shutting down the organization rather than addressing specific wrongdoings. Dr. Mahathir, known for his strong stances on governance, believes that the government's approach toward GISBH is disproportionately harsh and could potentially harm a successful business that operates across 20 countries.
In an exclusive interview, Dr. Mahathir drew a comparison between the current situation and the way his administration handled the controversial Al-Arqam group in the 1990s. He recalled how his government took steps to correct the group's religious deviation without resorting to extreme punitive measures.
"When we dealt with Al-Arqam, we knew they were deviant in their religious teachings. But our actions weren’t about punishing them. We focused on educating them about the correct understanding of Islam. We didn’t rush to imprison them; instead, we explained things, and they came around to accepting our explanations," he remarked, highlighting the more balanced approach taken during his tenure.
Dr. Mahathir’s criticism of the current government's handling of GISBH seems rooted in a call for a similar approach—one that addresses the root issues without unnecessarily harming the organization as a whole. He acknowledged that while there might be legitimate concerns about the company’s operations, including potential criminal activities, it is crucial that the government acts only on actual offenses rather than taking sweeping measures that could jeopardize the entire business.
"Deal with what they’ve done wrong, but don’t go after them for things they haven’t done wrong," he emphasized.
One of the issues brought up by the government appears to involve income tax arrears, but Dr. Mahathir pointed out that tax investigations should be handled fairly and transparently. He argued that while it is appropriate to investigate and resolve tax-related matters, the process should not involve overly punitive measures like imprisonment.
"In cases of income tax arrears, the norm is to conduct an investigation first. After the facts are established, then a decision is made on what actions to take. People aren’t jailed just for having arrears," he said, reiterating the need for a measured response.
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