Battle for Malay votes as Dr M spearheads Harapan attack

YOURSAY | But the likelihood of Harapan not being registered is strong.

Harapan formally announces Dr M as PM candidate

Kim Quek: The joint leadership of Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Anwar Ibrahim is destined to finally move the Malay electorate to shed the fear of change. This will inevitably trigger the fall of the old decadent regime.

While Mahathir will lead the charge to take Putrajaya and initiate the change, Anwar will take over the mantle to rebuild the nation from its current tattered state.

The tumultuous decision (that Mahathir is Harapan’s PM-designate) announced on Sunday is not only a huge morale booster for all who cherish the country, but will also alter our political landscape for a long time to come.

Congratulations to all the Pakatan Harapan leaders who have placed the interests of the nation above all else to reach this historical consensus.

Ultimately: Probably a lot of decades-old reformists like myself are gagging nationwide. However, I really don't see any other way this BN game of chess, where the opponent is severely handicapped and repeatedly cheated, can be played.

Like playing chess without the king and numerous missing pieces, the opposition really has no choice.

Perversely, I do salute the traditional opposition leaders for their guts. That at the very least, I can admit. Now excuse me while I throw up.

Mushiro: Harapan has announced the most feared 'weapon' of PM Najib Razak and Umno as its prime ministerial candidate.

Umno will go bonkers and we can expect to see Umno leaders Salleh Said Keruak, Abdul Rahman Dahlan, Annuar Musa, etc, blabbering and discrediting Mahathir.

The MSM (mainstream media) will go into high gear with misinformation about unhappiness in PKR and Amanah. Harapan should now focus on winning over fence sitters.

FairMind: It is only apt that when the country is burning, the man who started the fire extinguish it before he himself is sacrificed and perished.

This is the God-given chance for Mahathir to redeem himself before he meets the Almighty.

However, Harapan must watch out for "accidents/mishaps" that could happen to the PM-designate from now to the conclusion of the next GE.

Prudent: Now we shall see how MO1 (Malaysian Official 1) will respond to this. One possibility is that Anwar is released on June 8 with a full pardon.

Anwar will then challenge Mahathir for Harapan's PM designation and destabilise Harapan as a result.

But this is risky since Mahathir may be able to handle Anwar with his political skills and experience.  And if Anwar doesn't play ball, MO1's goose is likely to be cooked in GE14 under the twin fires of Mahathir and Anwar.

And what about resorting to taking over as Chairman Najib and use the National Security Council (NSC) to declare a state of emergency?

MO1 can only do this if he has the support of the armed forces. With both Anwar and Mahathir gunning for him, it will be a long shot to get such support for his continued rule under a state of emergency. 

So, I expect to see the beginning of the end game for MO1 and the kleptocrats, with many cronies moving their assets out and fleeing the country ahead of GE14.

Anonymous 1058841433936091: Let us hope this (Mahathir as Harapan’s PM-designate) would help in moving the rural Malays and Indians to vote for Harapan. Chinese are more or less for the opposition. 

We really need a change. Give Harapan a chance to see what they can do for the rakyat. Najib had the opportunity to be the country’s best PM, but he has squandered this opportunity.

Anonymous 1658941462195551: Yes, Najib has failed the rakyat. He is not good at making speeches and done a lot of wrong things during his tenure - one of the biggest kleptocratic era in Malaysia where 1MDB saga is still unresolved and where no one is found to have done anything wrong despite billions of ringgit missing.

Clever Voter: Now that the dust has settled, the Harapan election machinery has to be oiled and well-geared for the big day.

But the likelihood of Harapan not being registered is strong, it’s up to the coalition to consider plan B, C or D.

The BN establishment doesn’t give up easily, and they too have many tricks up their sleeves. While there will be unexpected surprises, the most important element is the voters.

The electoral machinery will ensure unfair advantage, but they cannot determine how the voters will decide.

Sara Wak: Wan Azizah and Mahathir’s wife Siti Hasmah broke into tears, and Mahathir, choked with emotions, bowed to the crowd.

Let us close ranks; let this be the real watershed for Malaysia. United we stand; divided we fall. It is really as simple as that.

Don't forget two large looming obstacles still stand in the way apart from the financial and logistical might of the incumbent - the failure for Harapan to contest under the Harapan banner and the rushed redelineation exercise to give the incumbent an unfair advantage.

Anonymous: Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Malaysia’s first woman deputy prime minister?

It’s most fitting for her after so many years of suffering and heartaches. She deserves the post.

My Opinion: This is like entering a time machine and go back to 1997 – it’s as though nothing has happened between then and now.- Mkini