AS Kedah falls to Perikatan Nasional, many lament the loss of another democratically elected state government.

While such sentiments are well-founded, I would argue that Bersatu and Mukhriz Mahathir have certainly been found wanting.

Kedah hasn’t changed much – aside from the plush contracts that have been distributed, the recipients of which include companies from China. Ironic, considering that much of the campaign narrative had been about saving the country from being sold to China.

It seems like another chapter of the Mahathir clan trying to secure as many contracts in the state as possible, among them a proposed airport in Kulim, industrial parks, and even durian plantations that would displace indigenous folk.

With the power entrusted by the rakyat to them to lead the country, it is very unfortunate that they used their influence to enrich themselves.

Projects and contracts come easy when you are a prime minister’s son. No doubt, these are essential to channel money to the grassroots level as things ramp up in the coming weeks ahead of the Bersatu elections.

To many Malaysians, the dream of burying the crony-nepotism complex we have been beleaguered with remains just that – a dream, nothing more.

Neither can voters laud him as a judge of good character. During Pakatan Harapan’s tenure, Bersatu deputy president Mukhriz said he was happy with the performance of ministers from the party.

Take, for example, former entrepreneur development minister Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof, best known for his penchant for flying cars. While this courted massive controversy, he continued to double down, justifying his ministry’s “current initiatives”.

Nor can we forget the ever-controversial former education minister Maszlee Malik, who began his tenure by ramping up fears of religious intervention in the education system, such as when he said religious teachers should use Sabah and Sarawak for “dakwah” (propagation).

And how about Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, once ranked third in a list by The Malaysian Insight on the worst PH ministers?

The former youth and sports minister had proven himself a lobbyist-in-chief as he continued to promote corporate interests, such as Razer and GoJek, camouflaged as “youth-orientated projects”.

It is unfortunate that he did not share the same energy for other things under his portfolio. Many athletic associations were left in the lurch, for instance. He also had a reputation as a glory hog, often taking credit for the achievements of our national sports teams.

Let us remember the charlatans that got us here in the first place.

From Zakir Naik to the Malay Dignity Congress, Bersatu under Mukhriz and his father, Dr Mahathir Mohamad, had been instrumental in every major loss suffered by PH, including in the Tg Piai by-election.

If anything, let us not forget the night of long knives in February, and their wielders from Bersatu. – May 19, 2020.

* Muhammad Junaidi Ab Ghani reads The Malaysian Insight.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.