Only Dr Mahathir can fill leadership vacuum, says Reformasi activist

Radzi Razak Radzi Razak Updated 8 years ago · Published on 8 Dec 2017 10:59AM · 9 Comments

Hishamuddin Rais, Reformasi activist and once staunch critic of the former prime minister, believes now in Dr Mahathir Mohamad. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, December 8, 2017.

PAKATAN Harapan chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad is the only one who can fill the leadership vacuum in the opposition created by Anwar Ibrahim’s imprisonment, said Hishamuddin Rais, Reformasi activist and once staunch critic of the former prime minister.

He told The Malaysian Insight that the man who led Malaysia for 22 years was the obvious choice because he had wider appeal compared with other opposition leaders such as Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin and PKR deputy president Azmin Ali.

“Anwar is the right choice (but) the reality is, he is in jail. Dr Mahathir is the obvious choice because when GE14 comes, the person the ‘cukong’ (businessmen close to the government) and venture capitalists have confidence in is 92-year-old Dr Mahathir.

“The one that the feudal group, civil servants, PDRM (police), ATM (army), public institutions and the people have faith in is Dr Mahathir, not Muhyiddin or Azmin,” he said.

Hishamuddin was a political prisoner during the Reformasi movement about 20 years ago, when Dr Mahathir was prime minister 

But he now believes only Dr Mahathir can lead the opposition to defeat Umno and Prime Minister Najib Razak. 

“To push forward and defeat Najib, Dr Mahathir is the appropriate person,” he said.

One of the leading figures in the Reformasi movement in the late 1990s, Hishamuddin was detained without trial under the Internal Security Act for 26 months, between 2001 and 2003. Dr Mahathir had accused him masterminding the Reformasi movement which was borne in response to Dr Mahathir’s abrupt sacking of Anwar as the deputy prime minister in 1998 for alleged corruption and sodomy. 

Anwar, the de facto PKR leader, was until recently seen as the candidate for the opposition coalition’s prime minister. He is serving a five-year jail term that began in February 2015 following a second sodomy conviction.

Dr Mahathir’s years as prime minister remain a sticking point for many activists and critics who point to him as the leader who eroded the independence of Malaysia’s institutions and suppressed press and other freedoms. Several financial scandals also took place on his watch, such as that of Perwaja Steel, Bumiputera company bailouts, and Bank Negara Malaysia’s forex trading losses amounting to tens of billions of ringgit.

PH leaders and political analysts, however, see the controversial strongman as the only way for the opposition to capture more of the Malay vote from ruling party Umno and take take from the Barisan Nasional federal government. 

PH, minus PKR, recently agreed to nominate Dr Mahathir as interim prime minister and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan ismail as the deputy prime minister should the coalition takeover the federal government in the 14th general election.

Hishamuddin, who was a well-known student activist in the 1970s, received brickbats at a forum in July for his volte-face.

“The questions are, who is our main enemy, why should we unite, and what is the role of Dr Mahathir?

“It is irrelevant whether or not I believe in Dr Mahathir,” said Hishamuddin.

He said Dr Mahathir’s international reputation was unparalleled.

“He is the only one who can call up (Russian President Vladimir) Putin, (UK Prime Minister) Theresa May or (Indonesian president) Joko Widodo, not (Amanah president) Mat Sabu or (DAP veteran Lim) Kit Siang,” he said. – December 8, 2017.
 

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Comments

  • Absolutely agreed to that. All those who whine and scream for their favourite's to be the PM are really not insync with the political reality. Too idealistic and emotion filled demands. Even the particular guest in Bamboo River has to be re-evaluated. The current environment and unrelentess changing demands do not go along well with short sighted visionary leaders who are just self serving for a Premiership. The old fox meet most of the criteria to be the interim PM and the most wonderful criteria which is not meant to be rude or lack of respect but laying it all out the bare truth and nothing but the truth is his "AGE". The Law of Nature will spare no one and prevent abuses by installing handicap containment to correct it self. So let's be reassured and support him . Look forward just to live for the day of victory.

    Posted 8 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Pakatan is horrible flawed in that it has no one else to lead them.. For those who want change but opposes Mahathir, you cannot have everything at once, its one step at a time. Yes, its not fair, yes its fraught with danger and somethings that need to change may not change if Mahathir leads BUT fact is, you do not get anything done if you insist on everything at the same time, its one thing at a time.

    Posted 8 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • Good for you, Sham. After your suffering under Mahathir's tyranny, you still see him as the saviour. Not everyone will agree with you though. The choice of M is repugnant for many, it shows the lack of faith (and ability) by the Opp to believe in their own principles. If you put the process right, you will achieve the desired results. But now, you want THIS result, and you are willing to put even the devil in the driving seat to achieve that. So very wrong.

    You are asking the people to vote the face of tyranny, the father of all ills crippling the nation? No chance.

    Give us any other name. That person will be just fine, we dont need him or her to call up Putin, Xi or Widodo. Whatever for?














    Posted 8 years ago by Ju bur · Reply

    • Hey Jubur ( arse hole ) I am trying very hard and still has yet after all the trying to comprehend what you are writing. You asked for any other name but you did not offer a suggestion and ending in bringing in world leaders names to impress but has no bearing to what you are trying to imply. I did put across to you earlier what have Madhartir in his 22 years tenure that has any relations to trigger your abusive statement and acting as if you are directly affected by his "tyrany". I believe you are only on hearsay and writing to create or instigating for an opposition against the old man who have actually done much for the Malay race in terms of economy, education level and placing the country in the good light in the international arena. I would say that bringing the Malay race out of the tempurung was one of his forte and obviously at the expense of many but again like it or not someone has got to do it. He has his flaws, but so do other world leaders too. You are what you are today like it or not, it was from the 22 years that had contributed to your ability now to condemn but sadly not knowing what is right from wrong. I believe that old man thru his administration play a major role in upgrading your life and now in return you bit back the hand that pull you up. The older generation are in a appropriate position to be very sore with him in his prejudices and those who are against him are ISA "castrated" and deeply traumatised but still reserver the strength to be magnanimous and accept him for his last fight to make amends. Who are you with any solid reasons to discredt him or should I say if the measly dedak can so much influence and skewed your thoughts to be so mean, than it is sad that all his work for his race comes to nothing. I am not his apologist and neither do I have any likngs for him as he was the cause of the miseries and has not even contribute in any betterment of my life as being a nons but I do not let silly notions to affect what a rightful thinking Malaysian should act when the whole country is in turmoil and a wretched state caused by a "Marcos" in the making.

      Posted 8 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

    • You dont even know me; cakap bising sampai ceret beret...perhi balik sekolah belajar sejarah mahathir 1981-2003. I simply do not trust an unrepentant despot. I dont have any fight with you, so say your view and pls feel free to disagree. Do not attack me because your diarhoea stinks to high heaven (to borrow from anwar)





      Posted 8 years ago by Ju bur · Reply

    • There are 2 Marcoses here: one is 92 yrs old, the ther his protege

      Posted 8 years ago by Ju bur · Reply

    • when you attack others and the old man is ok by your rule and when being told otherwise it is a pain in the rear end for you. Siapa makan chabai rasa pedas. By the way I do not need to back to school as I am old enough to be your dad or maybe your grandpa. Madhatir period is in my era and I could skillfully manouvere you thru his 22 years. Belagak konon.

      Posted 8 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

    • Pee pee

      Posted 8 years ago by Ju bur · Reply

  • Bla bla bla...fu sham, admit using that old fart have back fired us pakatan...if you have to justify your action each time it involves mahatik that means somerhing wrong somewhere you moron. And it looks like mahathik new bff have order his goons to defend this action in each comments/articles/forum...wonder who's gonna call me umno cybertrooper or mahathir terms: dedak eater

    Posted 8 years ago by Mangkuk Hayun · Reply