I AM not sure whether the two-termed former premier Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad is joking or serious about wanting to become the Prime Minister for the third time.
He has mentioned this on a number of occasions in the recent past.
After the formation of the national Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) coalition which consist of several mosquito political parties, he suddenly thinks that his chances of becoming the PM is a possibility.
Of course, if he thinks that the GTA can be included in the grand coalition of the opposition, the chances of him become the PM is even better.
However, whether the opposition under the leadership of Pakatan Harapan (PH) wants to include GTA is another question.
Opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in response to the olive branch extended by Dr Mahathir said “thanks but no thanks”.
Having betrayed the PH Government, Dr Mahathir has no credibility with the opposition. He has severed his ties with UMNO and Bersatu, hence collaborating with them is out of the question.
I don’t think that UMNO and Bersatu leaders want to waste time with a person like DR Mahathir who is a spent force in politics.
Big joke
In fact, if not for Dr Mahathir, the PH Government would not have been betrayed by those who rallied around him before abandoning him to opt for the infamous Sheraton Move.
Dr Mahathir might be living in his dream world of wild imagination that he only he can “save” the country from the disaster.
Narcissism – thinking of the greatness of oneself – seems to be the hallmark of Dr Mahathir. Yes, Dr Mahathir is dead serious about becoming the PM but his friends and foes think that it is big joke.
Many don’t even want to comment about his political ambitions especially at his age of 97. His friends out of deference to him might not want to comment.
But his political foes have dismissed him as of no consequence for the country let alone be considered as serious contender for the post of PM.
Dr Mahathir never saved Malaysia from political disaster during his two terms in office. He was single-handedly responsible for the ethnic and religious polarisation in the country.
It was he who crafted and perfected the apartheid system of institutional racism in the country. For the country to move forward, the system of institutional racism that is deeply entrenched must be dismantled.
How can the person responsible, Dr Mahathir, be considered the PM for the third time? There must be a limit to this political absurdity. – Oct 19, 2022
Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is the state assemblyperson for Perai. He is also Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
