Mahathir stresses on loyalty to party, country

One's personal interest or ambition should not supersede loyalty to party and country, said former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

"The love for the party and nation should be greater than love for oneself," he said in the latest posting on his blog.

Dr Mahathir's remarks stemmed from a recent development in the United States (US) which saw Susan Rice declining the post of US Secretary of State because of criticism by the Republican Party over her comments and handling of the killing of the American ambassador in Libya.

The Malaysian statesman noted that although Rice claimed she had done no wrong and US President Barack Obama still wanted her to be Secretary of State, she decided not to accept the post.

Rice, he said, felt that her appointment would damage Obama's administration and the Democrats, and she did not want this to happen even though she was innocent.

"Perhaps, there is a lesson here for Malaysian politicians of all hues," Dr Mahathir said, adding that when the need arose, to sacrifice a little was far better than even to prove one's innocence.