The Final Triumph
The brightest limelight fell on Mahathir, outshadowing Abdullah seated in the middle. Nevertheless, the outgoing prime minister showed his gentleman demeanour, taking the initiative to humbly greet this uninvited guest.
By TAY TIAN YAN/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily
Even the final corona was Mahathir unwilling to offer to Pak Lah.
Pak Lah's supporters were grossly disgruntled.
The highlight of the UMNO general assembly should have been to offer the final glory to outgoing party president, according to party traditions–ostentatious praises, standing ovation and never-ending applauses.
Whether such acts have been performed out of sincerity, at least that is the Malay culture, which must be performed to the best possible.
And no matter how Pak Lah had been evaluated, he deserved such a gesture from party delegates.
But when the general assembly was approaching its climax, Mahathir made his face shown.
Didn't he say that he wouldn't attend the general assembly because UMNO Youth had elected a new chief that showed the youth wing was in support of money politics, and that he didn't want to be part of the game?
He came. He was absent during the opening ceremony, during the debates and dinner. He showed up just for the closing.
The focus of all delegates and TV cameras shifted towards him.
He was given the loudest cheers and applauses.
Muhyiddin, Najib and Abdullah who made the conclusion remarks had to make mention of his name, welcome him, and sing praises of him.
The brightest limelight fell on Mahathir, outshadowing Abdullah seated in the middle. Nevertheless, the outgoing prime minister showed his gentleman demeanour, taking the initiative to humbly greet this uninvited guest.
When Mahathir relinquished his presidency six years ago, he was accorded his deserved honours. And now he is back to steal more limelight.
Perhaps we could only say that his arrival was so accurately timed.
Although many have said it was the great reconciliation, I didn't smell any reconciliation there.
Mahathir only wanted to prove one thing: in the past several years of struggle, he was still the final victor.
So he chose to walk up to the stage of victory at that very time.
Why not? As he has wished, Pak Lah has retreated from the stage, and Mahathir has claimed the final triumph.
He went up to the stage, standing right between Najib and Pak Lah, as if he were the one to receive the grand award.
But he never announced whether he would return to UMNO.
Perhaps he wanted to see whether Najib's Cabinet and supreme council lists would meet his expectations.
If Khairy appeared in the Cabinet list, I think he would get furious again, and would never return to UMNO.
