Azmin, oh Azmin!

The Malaysian Insight The Malaysian Insight Updated 4 years ago · Published on 22 Oct 2019 6:45PM · 8 Comments

Economic Affairs Minister Mohamed Azmin Ali (right) believes Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad should be allowed to see out one term in office, but it will be the voters who have the final say. – The Malaysian Insight file pic, October 22, 2019.

ACCORDING to Mohamed Azmin Ali, sometimes minister but mostly just defender of Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the rakyat gave the current prime minister the mandate to complete his whole term in office.

Nothing much wrong with that statement except that the support for anyone holding on to the position of prime minister is not unconditional.

Surely, we should not allow a person to complete his term as PM just because he led a political party to victory at a general election? Surely not.

We can’t imagine anyone sitting in silence if the PM suddenly traded in the manifesto that put him in power for a stay-in-power-by-all-means strategy.

Similarly, should Malaysians – who backed Dr Mahathir as PM because they truly believed that he had shed his authoritarian nature; that he was going to be the leader for all Malaysians; and that he had brought in the reformist agenda of Pakatan Harapan – blindly believe that he was still the best man for the job after he veered off course?

Every member of the PH government is on probation. More so Dr Mahathir. Why is the burden heavier on this one person?

Simply because he talked a good game in the run-up to GE14, speaking like someone who wanted to atone for some of his mistakes and set the country on the right path.

Many voters were sceptical because of his Umno pedigree and his patchy record as a reformist, but everyone deserves a second chance.

So, Dr Mahathir was given a second chance. The same community who he once hammered in the Malay Dilemma gave him a chance for redemption.

It is fair to say that the second coming of Dr Mahathir has not been as great as advertised.

Race relations seems to be getting worse by the day, fuelled no doubt by Umno and PAS but encouraged by some elements in PH.

For the average Malaysian, it has been getting tougher to make ends meet.

Most cabinet members are anonymous and the best word to describe intra PH relations is dysfunctional.

Moreover, how else could you describe ties within the coalition when secretaries-general of DAP, PKR, Amanah and Bersatu issue a statement that Hishammuddin Hussein is trying to break-up the coalition through some backroom deal?

Yet, some PH leaders to pretend like there is no such plan.

However, most troubling is the perception that the PM has forgotten what the people who put him in power really desired when they put PH in power: a united Malaysia not hampered by the millstone of race and religion.

Dr Mahathir’s presence at the Malay Dignity Congress was akin to thumbing his nose at those people.

He shared the same stage with leaders of Umno and PAS, political parties he was more than happy to deride as corrupt and dangerous in the run-up to GE14.

By his presence at the congress, he also appeared to endorse the divisive rhetoric of the speakers.

So much for uniting a nation.

So, Azmin, you may believe that Dr Mahathir deserves to complete a full term as the Prime Minister of Malaysia.

There is no such entitlement.

The best judge of Dr Mahathir will be the people who put him and PH in power, not politicians or ministers, whose cushy jobs and perks depend on the status quo.

Malaysians will get a chance to judge what they think of the PM at the by-election in Tanjung Piai. – October 22, 2019.

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Comments

  • No doubt Tun is the one who was capable of bringing down a kleptocratic regime. We thank him for that. However, what we are cautious is not so much about the authoritative style he rules the country but the "*ism" which was installed by his predecessor and later brought to greatest height by him in the 80's, the "ism" which has weakened his own people instead of lifting them, the "ism" which is still deep in his mind, is going to take charge of his policies again. For this, we have no reason to support his continuation as PM.

    Posted 4 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • I think he should as soon as possible. His people are carrying the PAS and UMNO flag.

    Posted 4 years ago by Alex Liew · Reply

  • Carrie Lam has no solution for Hk as she is a Hkonger and the mess and violence there is just anti China and she knew it. Dr M as the senile idiot ask her to step down as he knew this root cause. The joke is he does not know how to step down himself and he is playing the same

    Posted 4 years ago by S L · Reply

  • Don't do anything that can hinder the rice bowls of the Felda Malay settlers and oil palm small holders!!! U comment like a world class great leader on Pakistan/India conflict on Kashmir but u knew very well India won't like what u said. U must be senile if u don't know India is our largest palm oil importer. U want to start a trade war with India at the expense of millions oil palm planters? If we have this kind of PM, do we need an enemy?

    Posted 4 years ago by James Wong · Reply

  • Melayu kantoi Melayu Mahathir berlagak di UN macam Hero Besar Kepala . Undur Mahathir 2 tahun adalah lebih dari cukup untuk U.

    Posted 4 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply

  • Come GE15 mahathir will be carrying BN UMNO PAS Flags. Msians DONT WANT KLEPTOCRAT TO COME BACK TO LOOT round 2.

    Posted 4 years ago by Mindy Singh · Reply

  • For a ageing person, good physical health is one thing but good mental health is another. One may be physically strong but he may be lacking in judgement calls or decision making and can be easily manipulated.

    Posted 4 years ago by Elyse Gim · Reply

  • Tun, just carry on with your agenda & dont worry about the idiots

    Posted 4 years ago by Ty Tiko · Reply