IS MAHATHIR TRUSTWORTHY?

(Malaysian Chinese News)

Does Mahathir’s new party have any new gimmicks? After a month’s speculation, application has finally been submitted to the Registrar of Societies for registration. UMNO media may think there is nothing much the new party can do. Still one has to be cautious against the foxy Mahathir.

Parties in the opposition camp are jostling to get close to Mahathir’s new party even before its birth. Now what happens to PKR which has been shouting Reformasi the loudest in the past? Its deputy president and Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin is extending a welcome Mahathir’s new party to Pakatan Harapan. Maybe just to avoid any embarrassment, Muhyiddin was assigned to talk to the Blue Eye to co-operate in organizing the 1MDB road-shows nationwide.

People can be excused for calling PKR as Parti Anwar. Reformasi was launched to defend Anwar in the aftermath of an UMNO internal struggle. Unexpectedly, it became a civil movement, synonymous with the awakening of political awareness. However, with the jailing of Anwar, will the fire of Reformasi continue to burn or be snuffed out as Anwar is no more influential?

Top leaders of opposition parties do not seem to treasure the sacrifices they made in the struggle all these years. They seem to look at their own party interest instead of long-term political ideals. People felt alarmed with the collapse of Pakatan Rakyat and now Mahathir has come in. Is it good or otherwise? Will Pakatan Harapan be given another chance?

Many people are asking whether Mahathir should be given a chance. There are many people who regard Mahathir positively because he had strengthened the economy, making Malaysia rich and strong. However, some people may have dementia, or they may be ignorant, or they may be too young and hearing bits and pieces here and there. Mahathir must bear a certain responsibility in our corrupt and chaotic conditions and in the racial and political segregation today.

When Mahathir was in power, he practiced the so-called “Mahathirism” but under the cover of harmony and prosperity, he also practiced cronyism, nepotism and corruption. He used his power to oppress opposition parties, dissidents and even amended the law so that the Government could deal with and detain people.

Of course, some people claimed that this was liberal dictatorship and said that without his abuse of power, there would not be prosperity today.

One should, however, also note that our prosperity is fizzling out, our economy is sliding and although our situation is not disastrous, there is no sign of any revival. Of course, those in power now have to account for it largely, but where is the original source of the causative factors?

It is understood the objective of the new party promoted by Mahathir is only to attack UMNO and also more to focus on the bumiputra. There isn’t much we can say here. But let’s look at Semangat 46, and even PKR were subsequently turning into a multi-racial party.

Mahathir seems to be short-sighted and care only for short-term interest. He is just like his old self in the past. He would simply destroy whoever he dislikes. There is no reason now to ask fellow Malaysians to be buried together with the old “Pharaoh.”