What if we bring back Mahathirism?

Updated 8 years ago · Published on 31 Jan 2018 1:25PM · 7 Comments

I WAS asked this question: “What if voting for Pakatan Harapan (PH) brings back Mahathirism and create another disaster for Malaysia?” 

My answer is it may.

But for me, the present Barisan Nasional (BN) government under the leadership of 1MDB-tainted Prime Minister Najib Razak poses a clear and present danger to this nation. 

What is at stake is not just the economic well-being of Malaysians but the very social fabric of our multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society. 

To stay in power and escape prosecution, he has shown he is prepared to compromise with religious fundamentalists to change the secular nature of this country and deploy more draconian laws against dissenters.

Mahathirism as an ideology.

If you are talking about Mahathirism as an ideology of repression, racism, cronyism and corruption, you already have its full manifestation in Najib’s Umno.

Dr Mahathir laid the foundation for Mahathirism but Najib has taken it to the next level with unbridled kleptocracy.

Furthermore, time is on Najib’s side. He is 65-years-old while Dr Mahathir is 92.

Can personal ambition be Dr Mahathir’s motivation? Unlikely. Some would say he is paving the way for his son Mukhriz or his ultimate goal is to merge with a defeated Umno minus Najib. 

Perhaps. Again, we are dealing with speculations versus present reality. 

I choose to take a chance with Pakatan Harapan, even one led by Dr Mahathir because my fear is any other choice would lead our nation to eventual ruination.

Another reason I favour Pakatan Harapan is Mahathir’s Bersatu party does not dominate Pakatan Harapan the way Umno does Barisan Nasional. 

Whether it will one day is again in the realm of speculation. 

But as it stand, the way electoral seats are allocated, no one party in Pakatan could dominate or impose their agendas on the others. 

It is in this power tension that consensus decision-making is more likely to take place and we should find safety in such balance of power.

More commitment to reforms

Pakatan Harapan has not been silent on commitment to reforms either.

Mahathir committed to reforms that deal with corruption, political funding, two-terms limit for the PM and generally on the need for separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judiciary. 

Granted it could and should go further with details of institutional and electoral reforms but these are definitely steps in the right direction.

Voting in an election is about making a choice. Some may begrudge this time round we are presented with two unpalatable options and they had to choose between the lesser of two evils. 

But hasn’t it always been that? When was there a coalition that was perfect, good and reflects all our ideals? 

Never and that will never be. I put it to you that it has always been a choice of the lesser of two evils or to the more positive-minded, between the better of two good.

Rise of a Third Force?

Some think if Pakatan Harapan fails to seize power this time and got totally annihilated, it would cause such a great disillusionment with establishment politics it would usher in a Third Force. 

Personally I doubt a truly radical third force could arise from the ashes of political abyss post-GE14. 

If PH does collapse; new actors, new alignments and perhaps a new name will take its place.

The so-called third force itself would have to make compromises with parties that are race-based, religious, regional and ideologically incompatible.

Such is the nature of politics. You have to make compromises to accommodate the views of those you don’t agree with. 

It is not about selling-out. It is about representation, maintaining harmony, having consensus and building a nation.

Change is a long and arduous process

Does this mean we lose sight of our goal of building a democratic and inclusive society where all are treated with dignity, where people are given equal access to education, practise their beliefs (or not), to business, to healthcare, etc? 

Absolutely not.

We cannot lose sight of our ideals but getting to those ideals is a long-term goal because change is often a slow and arduous process. 

It is not an event called the general election. Elections are the opportunity citizens have to express their choice of which coalition best represent their
aspiration. 

The emphasis is on “best represent” not “best”.

No rivers are absolutely straight when they begin their journey from the mountains. They have to meander through valleys, rocks and other obstacles before they reach the sea. 

Likewise, achieving our ideals of a mature and functioning democracy requires navigating around obstacles and making compromises and accepting Plan B.

Sometimes it look like it’s regressing but as long as it is flowing, it is not. 

Participation in expressions of democracy like voting is to keep that river flowing, it cannot stop. 

If we still cherish the idea of democracy, voting is sacrosanct, a sacred duty of every citizen.

Conclusion

Understandably many are disillusioned and disappointed with the state of politics and even of democracy itself. 

But as Winston Churchill said: “Indeed it has been said democracy is the
worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”

It may not be perfect but it is still the best form for citizens to peacefully express their choice and effect peaceful transfer of power. – January 31, 2018.

#EveryVoteCounts 

* Thomas Fann is chairman of Engage

* 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.

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Comments

  • Make no mistake, many Bersatu members.maybe even majority believes in Ketuanan and want to retake UMNO. They believe Najib's UMNO is a betrayal of Ketuanan, not natural result of it. But they will find that if they try to merge back with UMNO, they will realise Najib is a result of Mahathirism.

    Posted 8 years ago by Bigjoe Lam · Reply

  • ...absolutely!

    Posted 8 years ago by Orenji Lingo · Reply

  • Maybe he is the lesser of two evils .... but ..... at heart he is STILL an authoritarian and an ultra r@cist (have you forgotten he was the patron of PERKASA?).

    Posted 8 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

  • Fighting corruption?? Have you forgotten it was Tun's supporters and cronies who vehemently opposed AAB's "cleanup"? After the hue and cry by UMNO over Kasitah Gaddam, AAB dared NOT continue any more ....... ask him why he allowed the RM230 million (1996) man and the "White Rajah" to amass such immense wealth .... why he condone Scopene (the beginning) that eventually leads to 1MDB?? ...... PKR .... why is Selangor the only state to REFUSE to sign the Anti-Corruption Pledge? (even opposition led Penang and Kelantan did) ..... why did AZMIN and his exco REFUSED to publicly declare their assets eventhough his predecessor and his exco voluntarily did ..... ??? !@#$ ....... Not everyone in PH are angels though BN is worse!!



    Posted 8 years ago by Malaysian First · Reply

  • Mahathirism doesn't mean an "ideology of repression, racism, cronyism and corruption" to me, as how it means to this writer.

    To me Mahathirism is just a way of governance where we put our trust in a charismatic personality to lead us forward instead of putting our trust on our institutions or laws or any particular ideology.

    As an ideology, i think it is an hodge podge of an ideology because its principles are taken from different ideologies from all over the world and mixed in a way that is unique to us by a leader whom we trust has our best interest at heart.

    As a way of governance, i think it is going to be a one-man sort of governance that is iron fisted in nature - it would be one man-ish because to have a powerful second that is almost equal to the first has a destabilising effect on this sort of governance ; this sort of governance is best when there is just one big man at the top supported by a team that is subservient to his authority, and it will be iron fisted because the charismatic leader and his team would probably have to punch their way through the existing powers structures - be they the constitution or the parliament or the courts or the institution of royalty - in order to take the people where the charismatic leader has promised to take them.

    Am i ok with the return Mahathirism - hell yeah - sometimes i think Mahathirism or Lee Kuan Yew-ism is the only way to govern the people of this region.

    Also, i think a parliamentary democracy where you have many people sharing power and governments changing every 5 or 10 years is more suitable for a country where the government is just expected to follow the will of the people, because the people themselves know where they are going, and just need their government to expedite some matters.

    In a country where people don't really know where they are going, and are composed of multifarious forces who will be perennially jostling with each other over a game of oneupmanship, i think a strong and charismatic leader in the mold of the late lee kuan yew or Dr. Mahathir who will rule over a period of 20 to 30 years uninterrupted would be better to ensure the welfare, progress and development of the people.

    The only problem is , i don't think even Dr. Mahathir will be able to bring back Mahathirism today.


    Posted 8 years ago by Nehru Sathiamoorthy · Reply

  • Tun Mahathir is a changed person now after joining the opposition. He is one for greater Malaysia rather than for a group of people. Since he has changed, there is no such thing as Mahathirism that will transcend from the past UMNO.

    Posted 8 years ago by Tanahair Ku · Reply

  • "Mahatirism" do not see the masses being poor or denied of decent living. Even there are corruption lots of developement and goodies are being ploughed back to the rakyat Understood that politicians at that time faced lots of obstacles and harassment to the extent of no freedom in whatever actions. Well it is a choosen choice to be in that field and be prepared to live with it as victor makes the rule. Just a thought !!! Any difference if the other side were to win ?????????. Those who have the gold makes the rule. This is the reality and the game in play in politics. Lets go to Najibnomics. Clear up every goodies for oneself and families of cohorters. Rakyat keep on crying and screaming about rising cost and miseries and bear in mind it is less than 8 years but the hue and cries puts the 22 years of Mahatirism a heaven in living. Corruption are not just the act of corruptors in the giving and receiving but heavily on those masses of rakyat who have knowledge and condoning it by their silence and inactions. So what comparison??? Placing PH to administrate do not neccessary revive Mahatrism but an act for a change to place a leash on the vile acts of both Mahatirism and Najibnomics. Once the feel good factor of changes seeps in to the Rakayt there will be no one party that can replay either both undesirable system

    Posted 8 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply