The answer is still blowing in the wind
His non-partisan government idea had drawn a cold reception from most quarters and especially from political parties and, overnight, Dr Mahathir was no longer their top choice for the top job. In their eyes, he had gone from the great unifier to the great divider.
Joceline Tan, The Star
TUN Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s appearance during his televised address a couple of days ago shocked many people.
He looked pale and tired although his voice was clear and strong. He did not smile even once and, most of all, he sounded somewhat defeated.
But yesterday, in his second live telecast in a week – this time, to present the Economic Stimulus Package – he seemed to have recovered his spirits.
Had his government not fallen, his Cabinet ministers would have been there to show their support.
Instead, he was surrounded by top civil servants who are now running the show and, as some joked, these government technocrats might actually be doing a better job than some of the former ministers.
The interim Prime Minister was his old, confident self, smiling as he fielded questions from the media and he looked quite handsome in a pink-striped shirt and polka-dotted tie.
More important, what he said at the press conference that followed provided the first important indication of what lies ahead in the unending political crisis.
