BOMBSHELL – MAHATHIR’S OWN KELPTOCRATIC CRONIYSM EXPOSED – ‘MANY COMPANIES & PROJECTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN TO HIS CRONIES ESPECIALLY DAIM, SYED MOKHTAR & HIS OWN BILLIONAIRE SONS’: SYED HUSIN, ONE OF PAKATAN’S MOST RESPECTED VOICES, PULLS NO PUNCHES IN FRANK ATTACK ON ‘DICTATORIAL’ MAHATHIR

ONE of Pakatan Harapan’s most respected voices today delivered his most stinging criticism yet against Dr Mahathir Mohamad, accusing the prime minister of favouring his children, Daim Zainuddin and tycoon Syed Mokhtar Albukhary in business deals.

By doing so, PKR founding member Syed Husin Ali was continuing a narrative that began recently on the back of Dr Mahathir’s ambiguous comments about handing over power to Anwar Ibrahim.

Syed Husin accused Dr Mahathir of reverting to his old brand of authoritarianism and sounded a warning that Malaysia could be on the road towards “kleptocratic cronyism”.

“Mahathir has become the old Mahathir, especially in the past few months. Old Mahathir means he is dictatorial or authoritarian,” Syed Husin told Malaysiakini in an interview.

Syed Husin alleged there was evidence that enormous wealth was being accumulated by Dr Mahathir’s children and cronies.

“Many companies and projects have been handed to his cronies, especially (Council of Eminent Persons chairman) Daim Zainuddin, (business tycoon) Syed Mokhtar Albukhary as well as his children,” he added.

Syed Hussin warned that power could be addictive, especially when it allowed a person to enrich himself, his family and friends.

“We have had kleptocracy. Are we now going to develop into kleptocratic cronyism? I hope not,” he said.

The veteran PKR leader did not offer any examples of sweetheart deals that were handed to the PM’s cronies.

In recent days, the media has reported that Syed Mokhtar is eyeing a 20% stake in FGV Holdings, a move which could see him eventually take control of the company.

Syed Husin said when Dr Mahathir returned to Putrajaya following the May 9, 2018 general election, he was willing to listen to different views.

He appeared to be a changed person, willingly giving up the education portfolio when reminded that the Pakatan Harapan manifesto prohibited the holding of more than one cabinet portfolio.

But of late, Dr Mahathir has reverted to his old self, said Syed Husin.

THE MALAYSIAN INSIGHT