IPOH:, MALAYSIA: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad claims that former judges removed during the 1988 judicial crisis were 'bribed' into making allegations against him.

It was evident, he said, that the former judges who received ex-gratia payments from the Government had been made to say negative things about him.

"It's been five years since I stepped down (as prime minister) and they had all these years to come out without fear to say I am bad.

"But why is it that only now, after having gotten money, are they saying so?" he questioned when speaking to over 1,000 supporters here yesterday.

"Give all the judges some money so they all say the same thing," he added.

Dr Mahathir, who regarded the billions given to Sabah and Sarawak as bribes in exchange for support, said a government which practised such corruption could not expect its people and followers to be different.

"When people oppose, make them senator or minister, give them money, give them a Tan Sri title but is this the Government that we want, is this what we call democracy"

"We can give money to Sabah and Sarawak but that doesn't mean we will get their support," he said.

During his one-hour speech, Dr Mahathir also suggested the setting up of an advisory panel to the prime minister.

"When power is given to only one person, there is a tendency to misuse that power and it becomes hard to separate the person from that power," he said.

The same, he noted, should also be applied to the post of Umno president.

Gopeng Wanita chief Hamidah Osman, who is also Sungai Rapat assemblyman, had urged Dr Mahathir to rejoin Umno as the party needed him to get it back on the right track.

The organiser of yesterday's ceramah, Kampung Tasik Belanja Parit branch chief Ahmad Zaini Ismail, announced in his welcoming speech that he would be contesting for the Umno Youth deputy chief's post in the party elections.