MAHATHIR: STRIPPED NAKED AND LAID BARE

Prof James Chin is the inaugural Director of the Asia Institute, University of Tasmania. He is an expert on the governance issues in Southeast Asia, especially Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore. He also works on island states in the South Pacific. His views are regularly sought by major news agencies around the world, including The New York Times, The Financial Times, BBC World TV, CNBC and Bloomberg. This is his view on Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

In his book, The Lasting Shadow of Mahathir, this is what James Chin said in chapter two (READ THE FULL CHAPTER HERE):

Mahathir wishes to create a family political dynasty, the Mahathir dynasty.

Mahathir wants his Crooked Bridge built just to win the one-ups-man or kiasu contest with Singapore. And he is angry with both Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Najib Tun Razak because it was not built.

Umno’s and Barisan Nasional’s poor performance in the 2008 general election was due to Mahathir’s attacks on Abdullah Badawi.

Najib needs to be ousted because he refuses to build the Crooked Bridge.

Mahathir is unhappy with Najib because Mukhriz lost the contest for one of the three Umno Vice Presidencies in 2013, which was crucial for him to win to eventually become the Umno Deputy President and then the President later, the only way Mukhriz can become the Prime Minister. Mahathir blames Najib for not endorsing Mukhriz, and hence he lost.

Another major reason why Mahathir is angry with Najib is because the Prime Minister favours1Malaysia (which would grant the Chinese and Indians equality with the Malays) over Ketuanan Melayu (which would give Malays supremacy over the Chinese and Indians).

Mahathir’s son, Mokhzani, is one of Malaysia’s richest men due to the NEP, which is a front for corrupt practices and abuse of power. The practice became worse in the late 1980s during Mahathir’s term as Prime Minister.

Mahathir wants Malaysia to be run his way.

Mahathir wants Mukhriz to eventually become Prime Minister.

The only way for Mukhriz to become Prime Minister would be to get rid of Najib.