Stand by for more machinations of Mahathir Mohamad

 

From Terence Netto

The assertion by Dr Mahathir Mohamad that non-Malays have nothing to fear from Malay political parties like Pejuang, and the critique by P Ramasamy of DAP leaves an essential point insufficiently stated.

This point is that the rights of Malaysians derive from the federal constitution and no citizen likes to feel he exists on the benevolence or sufferance of whoever it is that happens to rule.

In arguing his point that non-Malays have no cause to fear his party, Pejuang, Mahathir cites the track record of the Barisan Nasional and its predecessor, the Alliance party.

He contends both coalitions, though dominated by race-based Umno, were nevertheless fair in granting representation in government and opportunities to flourish to minority races in Malaysia.

Ditto, by extension, race-based Pejuang, if chosen to rule by not only the majority Malays but also by minority non-Malays.

Truth of the matter: virtually nobody, save cronies and relations, trusts Mahathir; otherwise all 42 of his party’s candidates would not have lost their deposits at the recent Johor state elections.

Not only did Malay voters reject Pejuang, non-Malay ones too spurned his party. Given the totality of the rout, Pejuang has no future.

Bersatu also suffered a near-rout in the Johor polls, but it has more support than Pejuang, a deduction made from its possession of several MPs that have switched from Umno, and a slew of MPs who leapt to it from PKR.

But, right now, in Malaysian politics, party-hoppers are a reviled lot and are headed for rejection at the general election.

However, Mahathir is not deterred by adversity, even though he is pushing 100 in terms of age.

His latest play for the support of non-Malay voters, especially Chinese voters, is a sign he is shaping to realign Pejuang with other political rivals in the battle for voters’ allegiance at the general election.

Hence brace for the machinations of Dr M: the man does not know when to quit.

Malaysian voters, however, especially the non-Malay ones, have shown they loathe party-hoppers and back-stabbers. Both categories are in for a lean time at GE15. - FMT

Terence Netto is a senior journalist and an FMT reader.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.