PUBLIC boredom and cynicism will win the general election for Barisan Nasional led by chairman Prime Minister Najib Razak, says his predecessor, Dr Mahathir Mohamad. 

Dr Mahathir, who led the country for 22 years from 1981 to 2003, said each vote not cast was a vote for Najib and his administration.

“Najib can win (the next general election) because the rakyat are bored and cynical about politics, not because the rakyat support him,”

“Najib wins; everyone loses,” he said in a blog post today. 

The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) chairman said that to being about a change, both the old and new generations were required to participate in the general election. 

The 91-year-old said the old generation of voters would continue to vote for the same “old faces” and stick to the old political struggles. 

That generation will not deliver enough votes to effect a change, he said.

If they win, he said, those who take “dedak” win (and) cash will continue to be king.

He said the Gen-Y of today failed to see the importance of their participation in the general election which they perceive to be a fight for power between the ruling and opposition parties.

To this generation, he said, the government and the opposition appeared the same; only difference was, the opposition were “pretending” to be united so as to achieve position and power.

He said there was no point in bringing up old struggles such as the fight for independence as Gen-Yers didn’t give a damn about them.

“Dato Onn, Tunku, Tun Razak and Dr Mahathir are only names in history, they cannot do anything for Gen-Y,” he said, referring to Umno founder Onn Jaafar, the first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman, the second prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein, and himself. 

The staunch critic of Najib’s administration has spent the last two years campaigning to remove Najib from office. – May 19, 2017.