Dr Mahathir for PM part of strategy to win rural Malay votes, analysts say


Bede Hong

Analysts say the appointment of Pakatan chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad as interim prime minister is a valid strategy to penetrate the rural Malays heartland, but may not sit well with youths. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, December 4, 2017.

NAMING Dr Mahathir Mohamad as interim prime minister is an obvious strategy aimed at benefitting Pakatan Harapan’s (PH) foray into rural Malay constituencies, say analysts.

The former prime minister and PKR president Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail were named as interim prime minister and deputy prime minister respectively after a two-day coalition retreat in Putrajaya that ended on Saturday.


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Comments


  • Youth especially millennials do not vote. If you do not have a Macron or Obama, can forget their vote. Najib's base like Trump's base is the key and that is Mahathir.

    Posted 5 years ago by Bigjoe Lam

  • Now with Johor Official 1 scandal, Mahathir ammo just got a reload

    Posted 5 years ago by Bigjoe Lam

  • There is no better choice!! Who else can take on Najib? Give TDM a chance. His mission is to get Najib out and later on put DSAI as PM. Meanwhile as interim PM, if he can correct his past wrong doings and get the train back on track to move forward for a better Malaysia it will be a bonus to all.

    Posted 5 years ago by Ong kok dee

  • I wonder when the political analysts offer their views and remarks, do they really have facts gathering by their research team or do they go down to the street level to mingle and validate for themselves the feedbacks gathered by their interns. Some of the analysts I know after their reading around and some info gathering from certain quarters makes their own semi conclusive remarks hoping their credentialls will help to make impact. Outlining the fear that the young voters do not really buy in to the older folks as leaders and have their own preferences is just making something out of nothing. In most of the past GE the contributions votes from the younger age group have not actually make any significant impact at all to warrant a change in determining the winners.. Maybe the demography might have changed a bit with the nation aging but again the voting patterns at this juncture are still pertaining to the age group who are abled to associate with the current old folks leader. It is a known fact that young voters stayed away during voting day due to their "don't give two hoots" attitude or simply no interest. The Bersih rally had stirred up great interest but the momentum from the younger group are still far from desirable. The opposition leaders of the younger groups are of calibre grade but in terms of political expediency it comes along with age and maturity. It will comes along to them after couple of elections . We will be kidding ourselves to think that GE 14 is battle royale fought with the hopes of young capable leaders to steer the country back on track after the 1MDB debacles or the GLCs institution in the financial fiasco. It is already understood by almost majority of the Rakayat for they have already tasted the hardship which are directly or indirectly linked to all the scandals which brought miseries to their economic well being. It is given and accepted that it is the core of the country ills. The country needs a very much experience guy who will be fast in solutions and very decisive with firm footings
    At this dire situation, the masses who are dependent on economy and country stability are looking for a hero who they can associates and have confidence to bring back their past glory. Who were be the most most appropriate . When no one is available even the devil will do fine if the job is done . With intense desperation affecting everyone a cool level headed statesman with strong political demeanor will do very well. The exuberant nonagenarian fox still with his high passion to make a change will be a much safer bet than others but can't say much on his physical aspect. What the heck!! The freaking high spiritedness of the old fox are drawing the attentions and kinda of help to boost the unity and drawing the Malay community with his charisma. Time is crucial as that is the precious item he has willingly given to us. Stop the crap of him having agenda of his own . Believe me when you are at his age nothing really tickles anymore . He has learnt to accpet that all things are preordained and only for him to propose. It is too tiresome for an old man like him to carry on endlessly fighting for his sons ambitions.
    It is peremptory that the election must be won and if at this crucial period we are flaked in determining who is the best choice I would rather that PH do not win for it is a harbinger of a worst administraor in the making.

    Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee

    • Blame it on "the prisoner of Bamboo River" for the opposition NOT being stronger. Instead of organic growth, he tried to implement "skim cepat kuasa" through luring of "kataks" from BN. Remember what he tried to do on September 16, 2008?


      Posted 5 years ago by Malaysian First

    • Agreed!!! This Bamboo River guest has never impressed me one bit. He is also the cause of Malaysia ills today. The Arabisation and the extremes was from his time and doing and manifested ito something of a nightmare today. A real chamelion.

      Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee

  • The deluded Opp still think the people are still lapping up their forlorn theory that mahathir is going to save their arse. They are sadly mistaken. The next GE will prove to be the worst turnout ever because apathy is seeping through all level of populace. The people don't want and dont believe in the unrepentant sly old fox. The people dont buy it that after 37 years they are presented with their worst nightmare as the knight in shining armor. The people dont buy it that after handing the Opp the impetus in 2013

    Posted 5 years ago by Ju bur

  • The idea that after 37 years, and after the great push in 2013, there is no better choice than the old unrepentant despot is laughable. It is a testimony if the abject failure of Opp. The turnout in the next GE will likely be the worst yet because unbeknowst to the Opp, apathy is seeping through the ground. Nobody in their right mind will trust the old fox as their saviour. And the architect of OSA can suddenly produce a voluminous dossier to save not the country but his own skin after the forrx scandal. The same dossiers that the Opp begged for in parliament. Ha. Ha. The people will not be hoodwinked like the current bunch of Opp leaders who have lost their ways by surrendering their hard-earned trust from the people and presenting them with their worst nightmare on the eve of GE. Do you really trust Mahathir?

    Posted 5 years ago by Ju bur

    • Jubur ( arse hole ) you are a joke. Who teaches you English . Google translate. Can you understand your lousy piece. It is a shame that you represent Umno in this forum. The party is already bad and on the way to be kuburkan somemore ada lah jubur yang busuk nak kelentong lagi. Woi Jubur pergi lah belajar baik2 dan jangan tiap kali pikir sodomee sja. Malu lah.

      Posted 5 years ago by Lee Lee

    • I don't trust him either... but ... Tun could do what he did due to the backing of the "strong" BN then but with the small Bersatu he now leads, he will be forced to compromise. He belongs to an earlier age but with the fast changing world political, technological and economical environment now, he will lose in every debate with the younger leaders. He can NEVER be a dictator again but my hope rest on him to remove UMNO/BN ...


      Posted 5 years ago by Malaysian First

    • LOL padan muka kau, 37 tahun disuap poliitik busuk mahatthir dab masuh ketsgih lagi di tahun 2018. Mimoi ngeri

      Posted 5 years ago by Ju bur

  • NO, NO, NO ................. to Azmin ....... He may turn out to be MO1 v2 ....eg...... why did he REFUSED to declare his assets publicly even though his predecessor as MB did ...... remember he tried to form DEIG (1MDB v2) ..... remember that MACC caught the assistant to Zuraidah (his lackey) and his nephew .... they may well be only proxies ....... fronting for "someone" higher up ..... as often happened in UMNO ... ()where corrupted one learned the tricks)

    Posted 5 years ago by Malaysian First

  • Never ever again will I vote for this dictator that breeds, supports and encourages racism, bigotry, division, hatred, donation & corruption. The same goes for Anwar - his attack dog. The core problem with Malaysia is that we do not have enough quality leadership (politician).

    Posted 5 years ago by Chris Ng