Dr Mahathir as Pakatan PM ‘only to win Malay votes’

Mohd Farhan Darwis Mohd Farhan Darwis Updated 6 years ago · Published on 12 Jan 2018 11:05AM · 6 Comments

THE decision to name Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the opposition’s prime minister candidate is only to draw Malay votes in rural areas but won’t help Malaysia’s long-term struggles towards reform, a forum heard yesterday.

Panellists at the forum said Pakatan Harapan should prioritise reforms badly needed in Malaysia and not whether the former prime minister is the solution.

“We are not offered options… we are only given Pepsi and Coca-Cola. 

“You force people to accept Dr Mahathir. Did you discuss with the people? What is happening now shows that there is no difference between PH and Barisan Nasional,” former PKR member Badrul Hisham Saharin, or better known as Chegubard, said at the Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall last night. 

PH previously presented itself as a viable alternative to BN but its recent decision to name Dr Mahathir showed its true colour.

“You haven’t got power yet, but you have already indoctrinated the people. And recently Dr Mahathir said toll rates here are cheap and no one objects,” he said, commenting on Dr Mahathir’s remark that toll charges in Malaysia were cheaper than many other countries.

Activist Haris Ibrahim says Dr Mahathir Mohamad is the same as other Umno and Barisan Nasional leaders. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, January 12, 2018.

In a Facebook Live held on January 10, he said toll charges covered the cost of road maintenance and building highways.  

Dr Mahathir and PKR president, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, are PH’s choice for the top two posts if the opposition wins the next general election.

The announcement drew derision from Barisan Nasional and even from some sections in PH.

Activist Haris Ibrahim said Dr Mahathir’s appointment as prime minister if the opposition pact captures Putrajaya will only cause problems. 

“If Dr Mahathir really wants to bring down Umno and BN, we welcome him. But problems will arise when he is appointed as the future prime minister,” he said. 

“Use Dr Mahathir but tell us the truth. Don’t say Malay poverty will end if PH wins. Don’t only talk about 1MDB and say PH will protect Malay rights. It’s same like Umno and BN.”

Malay Mail Online editor Fathi Aris Omar said Dr Mahathir had a bad record in upholding democracy during his tenure as prime minister, as freedom of speech eroded during his era.

Dr Mahathir was the father of kleptocracy who gave birth to today’s kleptocrat, he said. 

The crowd at the forum on Pakatan Harapan’s choice of Dr Mahathir Mohamad as the opposition’s prime minister candidate at the Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall last night. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, January 12, 2018.

Bersatu strategist Rais Husin Mohamed Arif, however, said the cooperation between Dr Mahathir and other opposition parties is needed to secure the Felda vote. 

“We can say Dr Mahathir destroyed the country but it was also he who developed the country. 

“He is the solution for Malaysia today. The BN prime minister is different from the PH prime minister. We no longer want to rely on one person only. We want institutional reforms.”

Activist Hishamuddin Rais said despite being arrested under the Internal Security Act during Dr Mahathir’s time, he was willing to put his personal feeling aside in the struggle to oust Umno and BN. 

“I’m not against Dr Mahathir, I’m against Umno. Umno is my enemy. At this point, the suitable candidate to destroy Umno and BN is Dr Mahathir. 

“He was an Umno leader. So, he is the best person to bring down Umno,” he said, adding that Dr Mahathir is the icon to woo Felda settlers. – January 12, 2018.

Bersatu strategist Rais Husin Mohamed Arif says Dr Mahathir Mohamad is crucial for the opposition to win over the Felda vote. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Seth Akmal, January 12, 2018.

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Comments

  • Pakatan Rakyat won more votes but less seats in Peninsular Malaysia because UMNO won more seats in Malay majority constituencies with fewer electorates. The voters there have benefited from FELDA schemes, and they are UMNO fixed deposit constituencies. Mahathir thinks that he would be able to get some seats with PriBumi appearing as alternate UMNO. And PR minus PAS are willing to let Mahathir become PM so that he could bring in 10 or more MPs for the opposition coalition. It is sad that the country has to rely on a person who is known to have done great harms to the institutions and political system, to break UMNO to end the institutionalized/legalized corruption. Racism is bad, and Mahathir's return proves it.

    The choice in GE 14 is not whether Najib or Mahathir should be PM, it is a choice between UMNO corruption and an end to it. Mahathir said that he would not go one forever. That is an encouragement for PH supporters.

    Posted 6 years ago by Meng Kow Loh · Reply

  • Do we want the reign of UMNO-BN to end? If not Dr. M, then who? Can the person replacing Dr. M has the reach to secure the votes?

    All these people condeming PH choice of Dr.M for PM must come up with a name. They can't simply against without a candidate. Azmin? Others agreed? Back to square one? Then the next candidate with experience, money and reach is Jibby. Still not happy? Come up with a name which you think the whole nation accept or STFU. These condemnation ain't helping the cause. Dr.M is 92 years old, how many years he still has? Dr.M is more interested in bringing down Najib than helming the country. He did not get his retirement because there is a plunderer helming the country, someone has got to do it, if PH has the able person, you think Dr. M needs to surface. It is because PH or more appropriately PKR is unable to present itself as the ideal party to lead as practically there is no leadership shown. The reason UMNO is strong is because PKR is weak.




    Posted 6 years ago by Butter Scotch · Reply

  • This chegufart is lalang on the fence moaner, who can't offer better suggestions let alone option for voters.

    Posted 6 years ago by Kuasa Rakyat · Reply

  • Much as I still harbour distrust against TDM, it's a chicken or egg first tale all over again. Without Bersatu and TDM in the picture, and TSAI ineligible in the next GE, was PH able to name anyone prior to the GE? No where in the world has a party won the elections without a nominated leader. More so if it's a cliff hanger and a leader is required to negotiate with smaller parties to form minority government. This is an unlikely scenario in Malaysia . Having said that, it would be prudent for PH to start publicising what they intend to implement to bring the country back on the right track again, in the event they win. Details required, not just slogans to placate the hard core backers, fence sitters and to win over the conscience of some of the silent supporters of the incumbents.

    Posted 6 years ago by Shovel Nose · Reply

  • Panellist, strategists, critics , analysts and idealists stop your hot air blowing. The rakyat knows what needs to be done to get back their country. Do not force your way of thinking and bellowing out non value inputs base on emotional and grudgeful actions. The charade makes it looks like publicity seeking. Can anyone of you in the forum able to commit a winning formulae and your desirable candidates of PM to be for a sure win in this GE 14 . If none plese hold your horses and shut up. We are tired of hypocrites and wannabees hero. None of you even have a battle plan let alone winning a war. When others are hard at work doing the critical task, it is very easy in a forum to be an armchair general and after the election it is over much more easier to be loud and blur monday quaterback. Imbeciles!!!!!!

    Posted 6 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Well, Najib is still PM because ALL OF UMNO ARE CROOKS.

    Posted 6 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply