Mahathir-Najib feud: Do we have to take sides?

Umar Mukhtar

Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad may well have a beef against Najib Razak. He alleges many things. Najib’s people in return alleges Mahathir of many things, too. Is the present national crisis about a quarrel between the two, or is it about the thievery at 1MDB that is still going on if unchecked?

Why is the debate about whether the pot is blacker than the kettle? A diversionary ruse to make one looking better than the other? Will that help us protect our money now?

The fact that Mahathir is hated by many is well-established. Not just because of the Rakyat’s money he may have lost, wasted and abused during his time as prime minister of 22 years, but of greater sins like rape of the Judiciary, lack of government transparency, making government institutions impotent, maybe even personal corruption. That way he may even be worse than Najib.

We did let it happen for whatever reason. I can assure you that most, if not all, of his sons’ wealth were the direct or indirect consequence of their father being the PM. Legal or not, no action was ever taken.  Now he challenges us to prove any of his wrongdoings. With that diversion, we will have less passion for scrutinising 1MDB. Is that the purpose of this ruse?

Najib’s alleged wrongdoings are happening now when we are in the position to do something about it. Focus. Mahathir will be judged by history. Or do we ask him to resign? From what? Or does it make 1MDB more tolerable? We can bitch about Mahathir until the cows come home. How does that stop 1MDB from being the conduit for the thieves? We gave Mahathir the opportunity to screw us, must we also give Najib that?

As to why Mahathir chose to be vocal against Najib when he himself could have been naughtier and thus open himself to appear the hypocrite he might be, is his call. To us who never liked him, it makes no difference. Just stop 1MDB. Maybe the comparison between the two will make UMNO members be kinder to Najib? As if they are that stupid. Or are they?

We are not judging a popularity contest. We just want a better government. If we don’t do anything now, there will be more Tabung Hajis. If Mahathir chose to be on our side on the things we complain about, let him. That does not absolve him from his past misdeeds

Remember, it’s our side nor his side. It is our battle. Don’t allow the spinners to make it sound like it is Mahathir’s battle we are colluding in. We don’t have to take any of their side. We are already on our side.