After more than half a century, PM 2.0 has returned to square one.
In a first for the 98 year old, Mahathir donned the perpaduan umnah green vest – see pix below – as he is presently aligned with PAS (and Bersatu).
The elder statesman made a joint appearance with PAS top leaders a few days ago (July 25) at a convention centre in Shah Alam. Before that, Mahathir was at the fully packed Kota Bharu stadium on July 21.
BELOW: A one-man wrecking ball — referring to the old dude waving his hand
1969 to 2023: Mahathir comes full circle
“Tun Mahathir kembali ke pangkal perjuangannya,” said Hadi Awang in his latest political sermon on July 25.
The PAS president elaborated: “… sebenarnya Tun Mahathir pernah berada di atas pentas PAS ketika beliau dipecat daripada Umno dalam Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Kapar di Selangor selepas Peristiwa 13 Mei 1969”.
Mahathir had been expelled from Umno in 1969 after butting heads with Tunku in the aftermath of that year’s disastrous May 10 general election.
The subsequent Kapar by-election remarked by Hadi was held on 3 April 1971.
Hadi is recounting how, following his sacking from Umno, Mahathir had stood on the PAS stage to find a voice in the early 1970s.
After spending a short spell in the political wilderness, Mahathir was readmitted by Umno in 1972.
This week, Mahathir once again appeared on the PAS platform after a very long and winding political journey.
Mahathir goes for nuclear option
The coming six-state polls are probably the last election battle for Mahathir. He is in the thick of things despite Mukhriz’s party sitting out the fight.
Mahathir forecasts a 5-1 outcome, predicting that PN will sweep five of the six states at play.
He is also shaping the PN polemics. His recent taboo-breaking pronouncements about pendatang are the most maximalist he has ever been rhetorically.
Mahathir is spearheading PN’s campaign with a populist rhetoric that the descendants of pendatang (read: Cina DAP) will take ownership of Tanah Melayu should the Malays lose their political power.
This narrative plank is a rehash of his past election messaging trotted out some 55 years ago.
GE15, however, is different in that PAS – the biggest party in Dewan Rakyat – is taking up Mahathir’s recycled message.
He tweeted yesterday @chedetofficial:
”DEFINITIVE PEOPLE”
“1. Migrants who are identified with the definitive people, have full rights in this country.
2. Migrants who wish to continue their linkage with their countries of origin cannot become the definitive people.
3. They cannot claim ownership of this country.”
In statement #1, Mahathir is alluding to the mamak and other Muslim immigrants who have identified with the Malay, and thus their descendants have bumiputera “rights”.
By statement #2, Mahathir is alluding to the Chinese who remain very Cina-Cina-Cina still in many, if not almost all, aspects of their life.
Mahathir’s statement #3 – “They cannot claim ownership of this country” – is consonant with his GE15 idea that non Malays nonetheless want political ascendence. It is also his Malay Dilemma carried forward from 1970.
Mahathir goes green to bring on tsunami
What is different this time from the 1969 election cycle is PAS now coming onboard with Mahathir’s Malay Proclamation.
Hadi Awang most recently said: “PAS menerima Proklamasi Melayu kerana ia merupakan satu konsep yang memerlukan bangsa Melayu bersatu dan memimpin kerana mereka adalah penduduk asal yang bertapak bersama Islam di tanah air ini. Bahkan, juga menolak kerjasama dengan DAP dan parti komponennya kerana membawa prinsip wala’ yang menjadi ancaman kepada ketuanan Islam dan umatnya, suatu perkara yang jelas dan nyata dalam perlembagaan partinya yang menjadi asas dan hala tuju perjuangannya.”
In a fortnight’s time on Aug 12, the ball will land squarely in the Malay voters’ court. Will they think too, like Mahathir, that the DAP and its base (“keturunan orang asing” in Mahathir’s words) still seem alien to the land?
Evolving Malay sentiment will determine how strong the vote swing to PN.
Make no mistake, Mahathir’s participation in the hustings has huge impact. He is the best public communicator bar none (perhaps only Sanusi might come within striking distance).
Mahathir has led his coalitions to a total of six poll victories — in 1982, 1986, 1990, 1995, 1999 and 2018. No other Malaysian politician can match such a track record.
In short, Mahathir knows how to win elections.
The PN leadership role is Muhyiddin’s but the PN message is Mahathir’s. It is an effective one.
Helen Ang 
Why TDM is making such a repeat of his past mis-conceptions is indeed a mystery to me ? He has displayed the many facets of his personal kaleidoscope which he had used effectively as applied on his closest and the dearest. To lump the Chinese in Malaysia as one amorphous lot, only TDM can do it with great pretense. A study of his relationships with his closest Chinese or non-Chinese associates takes on an established format. They were all uneducated, penniless and fit a certain image in TDM’s vision. Apart from the British, Lee Kuan Yew and one other, TDM knew the Chinese character, manners and customs best of all. He knew from his learned studies all about the Chinese, the malleable and submissive Lao Chinese or the proud Southern Chinese. He knew the strengths and weaknesses of the Chinese. TDM is no Clown or Fool of today’s Malaysia ! When the bunch of minority born again christian Lao Chinese DAP Leadership were licking his boots, TDM knew how the Lao Chinese behaved always. As the pix showed, he permitted them to lick both boots ! To be a Statesman with a Legacy, TDM will be surprised that many Han Chinese will laud his 22 year stewardship. He will also find many of his closest and dearest would have forgotten him chop chop ! Here is a true story. I visited a tycoon together with Tan Sri Ting Pek King and his aide. The self-taught or DIY tycoon raised his arms like a Roman Emperor to demonstrate what he has achieved being his own iconic building attached to the twin iconic Towers. He said, ‘My father who used to work as a clerk for the Railways had only a tiny plot in Brickfields. And now this……’ as he raised both his arms royally. I thought he should compare himself with my father who became the richest person in KL without any help in British colonial times or from high above ! . With this remark, he invited us to relish the cookies made by his mother ! As KL was a small place, the Chairman of the Selangor Turf Club had already told me in 1989 how such wealth could be created with ease in those halcyon days via the eponymous GDV. . TDM certainly knew who and who – be they Lao Chinese or otherwise. A person who had the longest history in dealing with the recalcitrant Chinese from his early years in Chinese Singapore till 2023 ! Who else but TDM ?
“he permitted them to lick both boots!”
Hahaha, Uncle. Good one.
Perhaps he believes that the Chinese are too competitive – even in the political arena as well – and is afraid that Malays will not be able to compete.
Madam. TDM understands the different Chinese clans to a T ! The Chinese are too individualistic and independent unlike the Japanese. That’s why he prefers the Japanese to the Chinese for reasons he knows best of all. History is the finest arbiter of the Truth. A picture is worth a thousand words ! With a beautiful hindsight, see how the HY cohorts were made fools of in the pix by an seasoned pro ? Also, the safest target is the Chinese because of their peaceful ways, manners and customs which some misguided people take as a weakness !
After 66 years of Merdeka, we Malaysians are obliged to do a due diligence on our Governments and their Leaders on their good or bad governance based on the solid Administrative structure which Malaya inherited from the British. The hallmark of a bad Leader was the serial series of scandals concerning money without cessation from !981 to 2022 which no one can deny. The collapse of good governance could only be due to the top Leadership from the beginning in 1981. Previous to this hiatus, no such money scandals were reported. In fact, Malaysia stood proud with its good standing in monetary management up to 1981, next to Japan ! Malaysia was definitely ahead of India in those halcyon days. A sound knowledge of events concerning the good governance of any nation is a must. To sweep malfeasance and corruption at the top or bottom, it is just enhancing the cancer to grow without impeding it. No politician today will deny he or she will not tolerate zero corruption. All can see the rows of medals which decorate the chests of all politicians and civil servants proudly which confirmed their earnestness in performing their duties and responsibilities ! It is on this score that the Chinese be they the majority Han or the minority Lao Chinese must be aware of our devotion, loyalty. trustworthiness and love for the country of our birth, life and death ! Not only that, as self-respecting honourable and proud Chinese, we must contribute to Malaysia and all in more ways than one. More than what the Dominic fellow said,’ The Chinese are only interested in progress.’ Notwithstanding that we the Chinese and all the other non-Chinese have recognized the dominion of the Royal Sultans from the very first day our forefathers arrived on these shores over 500 years ago ! We the Chinese rightly should avoid in conflicts concerning Power in domestic quarrels which is not our ken. We the Chinese are only concerned with the creation of progressive developments and a equable environment for all who lived amongst us in the best country in the World, Malaysia. Also, an important point to remember is the many good sounding demands for reforms by job-seeking individuals which are impossible to implement because Malaysia’s population is NOT homogenous ! Listener, beware of wolves in sheep clothing ! As for the very few born again christian Lao Chinese DAP Leadership which hi-jacked Mr Lee Kuan Yew’s chauvinistic creation via the Veteran and Fil, now trying to implement their hidden motives of whatever kind, MY ADVICE TO THEM IS TO RETURN TO THEIR INCOME TAX FREE NEW PLACES OF WORSHIP AND SPREAD THEIR HUGE INCOME TAX FREE LARGESSE AMONGST THE AGED POOR, THE SINGLE MOTHERS, ORPHANS AND THE DISABLED OF ALL THE COMMUNITIES BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE ! It is prudent that the born again christians of Lao Chinese origin eschew politics and the DAP without GREED and contribute wisely and earnestly where their INCOME TAX FREE RINGGIT COUNTS MOST ! Whoever gave these born again christians of Lao Chinese origin to USE MALAYSIAN POLITICS TO ADVANCE THEIR BELIEF SHOULD BE DESPATCHED TO TIMBUCTOO OR DJIBOUTI which I visited in 1964 ! These folks did not realize they are NON-STARTERS from DAY ONE ! They are now wasting time and money ! Where else but Malaysia ? Courtesy Shangri-La Hotels.
Tun’s overt proclamation that Malaysia is Tanah Melayu reverberates among the Malays across the political divide. Tanah Melayu is Malaysia’s core identity defining the civilisation state. The British brought in cheap migrant labour who were given citizenship free of charge, ie, citizens of Tanah Melayu. It was a very generous gift. After becoming affluent, their descendants now want to dominate over politics & eventually rule over everyone else. These people reject the Tanah Melayu identity. They refuse to speak the Malay language despite existing & thriving on Malay land for generations. They question the special rights of the Malays in their own land. They refuse to mix with Malays. They insist Malaysia does not belong to Malays. The DAP is the leader & chief protagonist of this pack of arrogant people.
The born again christians Lao Chinese (Hainan) DAP Leadership intervened in taking sides with different Malay contending political groups for the very first time. The Lao Chinese of this ilk are of a very small minority which began with PAS then via TDM and now UMNO. None of the Han Chinese or their parties MCA 1.0 etc ever intervened or interfered in non-Chinese politics or Malay politics. IT IS VERY WRONG FOR THE CHINESE TO DO SO BECAUSE THE CHINESE WERE ALWAYS AWARE THAT MALAY DOMINION HOLDS SWAY. Why these DAP born again christians Lao Chinese DAP leadership interfere or intervene in Malay affairs which are NOT THEIR BUSINESS is because these fellows only look like Chinese but FOREIGN or not a single dram of Chineseness inside ? Hence, once exposed, the DAP is up a greasy pole of no return. In May 2018, I saw this DAP faux pas. My approach to the 4 Leaders were ignored. My proposal was for DAP to sustain, it has to revolutionize and become truly multi-racial. But it is now clear that these fellows want to be like Adam and Eve – begin from scratch their way, forgetting only 500,000 exist in a population of 32 millions. SHAH’s observations on some Chinese are true. That is why the Chinese today have no Honest and Real Leaders to lead them. My children and grandchildren have no difficulty with the SMKs. They all scored top marks, joined the London colleges and have returned home. No problem as Malaysians of Han Chinese origin!
SHAH. When you deal with the Chinese, always remember different Chinese clans have different behavioural characteristics. Only the British, TDM , Lee Kuan Yew and one other knew how to USE them especially the Lao Chinese who are the minority born again christians Lao Chinese (Hainanese) DAP Leadership who look Chinese on the outside but no Chineseness inside ! The majority are Han Chinese, 6 – 7 millions.
It is timely for the DAP to openly declare,’ Our Leadership consists of born again christians who are Hainanese.’ to all and sundry especially to the Han Chinese. This is the proper thing to do in the public interest of transparency and openness. Or the DAP is now led by born again christians who are Hainanese because we the 97% Han Chinese want to dissociate ourselves from all the zany actions concerning the Malays implemented by the born again christians Hainanese. Let us call a spade, a spade and nothing else. Let all the Han Chinese be the judge on the zany actions of the Lao Chinese ! It is time Muhyddin find out how many Christians have been appointed to the Judiciary in recent years in comparison/proportion to the small population in the country. Justice must be seen to done !