22 January 2018

Why is the Chinese community which was once anti-Mahathirism re-embracing Dr M in the opposition?

It is puzzling as to why the Chinese community would gleefully cheer Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad on in joining his once biggest rival opposition coalition.

On Oct 31, 2003, Tun Mahathir stepped down and Tun Abdullah Badawi (Pak Lah) was handpicked to become Malaysia’s fifth Prime Minister. That was when the people saw an end to the cronyism and corruption that were prevalent during Tun Mahathir’s era. In the 2004 general election, the people demonstrated huge support for Pak Lah, and he won by a landslide 198 out of 220 seats in Parliament for BN. It was clear that Mahathirism was despised by all, especially the Chinese, and Pak Lah’s election was a fresh breath of air against it.

Given Tun Mahathir’s track record of authoritarian rule during his 22-year tenure as the Prime Minister, one would not forget how he had mingled in the RM30 billion forex trading losses incurred by the then Bank Bumiputera subsidiary, Bumiputera Malaysia Finance Ltd. during the 1980s. The concept of Mahathirism has been expanded further when Tun Mahathir was lambasted for interfering with the judicial system, leading to a sacking and suspension of a federal court judge and few other judges who dished out judgments which he felt were unfavourable.

It is ironic that DAP which has previously coaxed the rakyat of all levels to sacrifice endless resources and energy just to topple Tun Mahathir, now clamours for Tun Mahathir to join the Pakatan coalition, and champion his bandwagon to oust the current Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Najib Razak and Barisan Nasional.

DAP should stop hypnotising and whitewashing Tun Mahathir’s Mahathirism, just like what they did for PAS’ theocratic goals. Tun Mahathir is not truly championing the cause of ‘saving the country’, but merely to recapture power and resume his previous authoritarian roles.  The future of the country cannot be pawned just for self-gain and only a leader with the sincerity to lead should be voted into governing the country.

In the last election, the people voted DAP and Pakatan because they thought the opposition pact could ‘ubah’ for the better. But how is this possible with Pakatan having decided that Tun Mahathir will be the Prime Minister if it wins the coming 14^th general election? It is like putting old wine in a new bottle, rebranding Mahathirism as some sort of ‘reformasi’ agenda to change the government.

Will Tun Mahathir rule differently when he is with Pakatan? He is leading a group of disgruntled former Umno leaders who want nothing but to oust their former party president Dato’ Sri Najib Razak. This only goes to show that they are insincere in changing the governance for the betterment of the country.

So now the Chinese community should decide the future they want. A stable and moderate Barisan-led government, or a conflictual Pakatan which champions the bygone era of Mahathirism!

Chris Daniel Wong

MCA Religious Harmony Bureau Secretary

MCA Lembah Pantai Division Deputy Youth Chairman

-MCA online-