How ironic it is that Mahathir is using the same people who went against him to rally him back into power

Lim Huey Teng, Malaysiakini

I have been penning my opinions on Mahathir for few years and have expressed my concerns about former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s intentions by going against the BN-led Government then. I have been ridiculed and mocked by many for doing so.

However, Mahathir has shown us that a leopard does not change its spots. Finally, he has stated his intention of becoming prime minister again. Mahathir has openly admitted that he is the top candidate for premiership of the country while PKR’s Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail would be his number two.

It is baffling to witness this turn of events. Mahathir politically annihilated Anwar Ibrahim that gave rise to the formation of PKR.

For umpteen years PKR and the Opposition pack rallied against Mahathir and his wrongdoings. For the longest time placards were held for Anwar to be released and be made the next Prime Minister.

Since the birth of PKR, Mahathir has left BN twice, joined the Opposition pact, became the head of the same people who were against him, and is now plotting his way to rule again while PKR continues to remain behind.

How ironic it is that Mahathir is using the same people who went against him to rally him back into power. He messed the previous three generations and now wants to do the same for the next three generations in order to fulfill his lust for power and greed for his family.

Human rights activists within DAP & PKR were always against the Internal Security Act (ISA) that was used to keep Mahathir in power. Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak abolished the Act in 2012.

Mahathir’s right hand Ibrahim Ali, now continues to vent against the abolishment of ISA and insists it should be brought back. In fact, Mahathir himself admitted recently that the repeal of ISA was one of the main reasons he withdrew his support from Najib’s government.

Looks like we know what is coming back if Mahathir comes back to power. Maybe the children of opposition leaders like Gobind Singh Deo that are hero-worshipping Mahathir wishes to taste the zest of ISA, just like what happened to his late father.

Time and time again Mahathir goes on a public rant to ridicule Najib’s wife and children. He brings up personal family matters, travels and shopping sprees about Najib’s family. He speaks about their family wealth. However, when the same happens to his son, Mukhriz Mahathir, it is deemed a hit below the belt.

Mukhriz is upset with widespread pictures of his daughters’ lavish lifestyle and private boating trips. He is fuming that his family is being dragged into the public storm.

As the saying in Islam goes, “Do unto all men as you would wish to have done unto you, and reject for others what you would reject for yourselves” (Abu Dawud). The Mahathir family obviously does not live by these teachings of Islam.

I wonder if Mahathir’s latest declaration on being the next premier has sealed the final nail in Pakatan’s coffin. I am sure the non-Malays in the country would not want another wave of ethnic cleansing in the civil sector.

Personally, I have had enough of Mahathir’s single-ethnic favouritism as though we are incapable of making it on our own. Quite frankly, we had enough of Mahathir and his family. It is definitely a case of once bitten, twice shy.

There are many in Pakatan who pen their thoughts supporting Mahathir on a daily basis.

One that I read recently was former senator S Ramakrishnan of DAP, an Indian whom without a doubt received a very raw deal under the premiership of Mahathir. He is now questioning all the heaped praises on Mahathir in the past, only to ridicule him now when he is out of the government.

Well, are not you exactly like them? You have ridiculed him when he was a PM and are now praising his every move towards the throne so he could marginalise your very same race?

Hypocrites are a plenty amongst us.