PUTRAJAYA, Nov 2 — Veteran statesman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has weighed in on the United States presidential election today, accusing both candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump of being “equally bad”.
Despite that, Dr Mahathir admitted former US Secretary of State Clinton would be more familiar to Malaysia, while billionaire Trump is too much of a wild card.
“Both are equally bad,” the former prime minister answered when asked by the press for his take on the two candidates during a Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) press conference here.
“But that is the US, the country that is ruling the world doesn’t know how to choose good leaders,” he added, to cheers from PPBM supporters.
However, the nation’s longest-serving prime minister did not specify which candidate he preferred.
Dr Mahathir was a staunch critic of the Western world, including the US, during his 22-year run as prime minister.
In 2014, he chided US President Barack Obama who warned against prejudice in Malaysia, claiming that there is no equality in the US whereas Malaysia has allowed ethnic Chinese and Indians to flourish.
The US will choose its 45th president on November 8 following the end of Obama’s two-term run.
