"They also worry about their businesses being singled out for some unpleasant treatment like being investigated by the Inland Revenue Board," he wrote in his blog today. Unable to do anything else, he said the Chinese cast their votes for the opposition and BN achieved the worst result in its history. Dr Mahathir insisted that the votes for the opposition were not due to a desire to replace BN with Pakatan Rakyat, but were actually protest votes. "But is it protest against the BN parties? Is it a rejection of race-based politics? I don't think so." The former prime minister said it was a protest against BN's poor leadership as the people saw "a BN leader who was indecisive, unable to deal with the increasing cost of living, flip-flopping, unable to stimulate the economy and above all is known for putting his family's interest above that of state". "Everyone knows about the 4th Floor and the role of Khairy Jamaluddin's cronies in determining policies and deciding on the business activities of the country. People consider these arrogant young people as contributing to the poor performance of the Prime Minister," he added, referring to Abdullah's son-in-law and his advisors. He also said BN's success for the past 50 years reflected the people's total acceptance of the ruling coalition. "And why not? Had not the BN built this country until it has become the most developed of developing countries, conducted free elections, brought stability and unprecedented economic development and achieved a degree of racial harmony which is the model for many multiracial countries of the world?" The former PM did not, however, comment on long-term criticisms that the BN government had been accused of manipulating the elections, enacting draconian laws such as the Internal Security Act, Official Secrets Act, Printing Presses and Publications Act and a host of others to silence critics, and that they were most harshly enforced during the Mahathir era. Dr Mahathir admitted that there were people who criticised the lack of democracy in the country but believed they were the minority who had never been able to influence the voters to reject BN. "After the stunning victory of Barisan Nasional in 2004 why has it been clearly rejected in 2008? What happened between 2004 and 2008? "Can it be that after almost 50 years of supporting race-based politics the voters have decided to reject it and opt for non-racial politics? "Have the people in the kampong suddenly yearned for more liberalism? If so why did they give strong support to Pas, a race-religious party which is anything but liberal?" - The Malaysian Insider | 
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