Will Warisan rope in Dr Mahathir to campaign for them?

These are indeed exciting times in Sabah. In less than two weeks, Sabahans will go to the polls.

Conspicuously absent is the mood normally associated with a state election or general election. Perhaps the tempo will pick up as we edge closer to polling day. Or it might not.

Which could mean that either Sabahans are simply tired of the political situation in the state or have no interest in what is being propagated to them.

Perhaps Sabahans at large have no faith in those participating in this election because of a trust deficit.

It could also be that most voters have already made up their minds who they would vote for or skip this election altogether. Who knows?

It could also be due to the threat of the Covid-19 pandemic that is spreading rapidly.

Food on the table, job security and political stability are of greater concern to Sabahans. Rhetoric and political slogans are only good momentarily.

But what is an election without the presence of political bigwigs. It would be nothing more than mundane.

Like it or not, political bigwigs have a tendency to be good drawcards because of what they say or the way they say it.

Former prime minister Najib Razak, for example, draws large crowds wherever he goes.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is just as popular. His ratings are at an all-time high.

But surely ex-PM Dr Mahathir Mohamad also deserves to be given the opportunity to test his popularity in Sabah.

Mahathir, besides being the longest-serving prime minister, has projected himself as a victim of circumstances in the way he was ousted as the PM in February.

He has cried foul and has repeatedly accused his former party colleagues of betraying him. When Mahathir was sacked from PPBM, he decided to set up yet another political party – Pejuang.

Mahathir believes he still has what it takes to be a kingmaker of sorts.

The bond between him and Sabah caretaker chief minister Shafie Apdal runs so deep that Mahathir had even proposed that Shafie be made the prime minister at the expense of PM-in-waiting Anwar Ibrahim.

Shafie, on his part, has sworn allegiance to Mahathir come hell or high water. It would be both meaningful and a great gesture therefore if Mahathir came to Sabah and campaigned for Shafie and Warisan.

One good turn it is said deserves another. Every vote Mahathir can garner for Warisan will be a plus for Shafie. But will Mahathir come? Maybe yes. Maybe not. Who knows?

To be fair to Mahathir, he might be waiting for an invitation from Warisan to come to Sabah to help Warisan’s cause. If that fails to happen, Mahathir must surely know exactly where he stands with the people of Sabah.

Tanjung Aru has been touted as one of the top 15 places in the world to catch a beautiful sunset.

Maybe, just maybe, sunset days for Mahathir’s political agenda lie in the Land Below the Wind.

Clement Stanley is an FMT reader.

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