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Friday, July 6, 2012

I can do better job than Najib or Badawi, suggest Dr M: But do Malaysians want him back?


I can do better job than Najib or Badawi, suggest Dr M: But do M'sians want him back?
Not only does former prime minister Mahathir Mohamed appear to be clueless about why he is reviled by a large section of the Malaysian population, he also denies there is such a thing as 'Mahathirism', insisting that he had served the nation sincerely and to the best of his ability.
The veteran leader was also quick to fire a salvo at Lim Kit Siang, the DAP adviser, who recently warned of a return of 'Mahathirism' - a culture of authoritarianism, cronyism and corruption.
""I don't know why he hates me so much. There is no such thing as ‘Mahathirism'. I served the country, that's all. As a citizen of Malaysia, I have the right to support my country and make sure it does well," Mahathir was reported as saying.
'Comeback kid' at 86
Kit Siang had also urged young voters to reject Mahathir's BN coalition at the 13th general election which must be held before the middle of next year. Otherwise, they could expect lesser civil rights and democratic space with Mahathir back in the saddle.
Indeed, it is clear the 86-year-old leader who ruled Malaysia for a damaging 22 years from 1981 to 2003 is firmly on the comeback trail. He is now widely perceived to be the 'power behind the throne' - unseating even Prime Minister Najib Razak's aggressive wife Rosmah Mansor.
More and more, Mahathir is seen as the country's 'de-facto PM' given Najib's weak grip on both the country and their Umno party.
Even the party newspaper Utusan reported the elder leader's official call to visiting Czech president in telling terms -  Dr Mahathir bertemu Klaus bincang ekonomi dua negara (Dr Mahathir meets Klaus to discuss the economies of the 2 countries).
I can do better job than Badawi and Najib
While Mahathir was quick to deny he controlled Najib, he was just as quick to suggest that if he did, things could be much better for the country and the BN - the ruling coalition led by Umno.
Since 2008, the BN has lost tremendous ground to the Pakatan Rakyat led by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim. Pakatan is now rated as having more than an even chance of forming the next federal government - the first regime change since Malaysia became independent from British rule in 1957.
"If I am in control of Najib, then things will be quite different," said Mahathir.
He also blamed his own anointed successor and Najib's immediate predecessor Abdullah Badawi for the BN's loss of political support during the 2008 general election.
That year, the Opposition won more than 50% of the popular vote but lost the federal government due to the extensive gerrymandering put in place by Mahathir during his rule.
"Last time when Abdullah wasn't good to me, the people did not support BN. So some people still have some sympathy for me," said Mahathir.
"I was in control for 22 years, so I have more experience. Maybe things would have been different.
So far, Kit Siang has not responded to Mahathir's latest comments but it is clear the 'grand old man' of Umno still believes he can do a much better job than Najib or Badawi.
Super Dr M back to save Malaysia?
It is also apparent that Mahathir thinks he has not lost his 'rapport' with the people, yet there are those who accuse him of being the most reviled man in the country and of leaving behind a legacy of evil, racism and corruption.
Many fear that if he were to rule Malaysia again, the country would go bankrupt even faster than the 2019 forecast timeline suggested by Najib's own ministers.
Mahathir is notorious for his mega projects and the enormous losses racked up by his administration through gambling on the world's foreign exchange and tin markets, which he knew about and encouraged.
"If you are familiar with Mahathir's language, what he is saying is that if the people feel the BN is now bereft of talented leaders, there is still him. He will save the country," PKR vice president Chua Jui Meng told Malaysia Chronicle.
"Whether that frightens you or not, he has this idea that we are still in the 80s and he is the most popular man in Malaysia but that may have been because the people in those days did not dare to question him or the government. It may not be so much that they really liked him."
Malaysia Chronicle

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