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Tuesday, September 19, 2023

PAS "Appoints" Dr Mahathir As Economic Advisor! But Wait... What Is Bersatu's Fate Then?




PAS "Appoints" Dr Mahathir As Economic Advisor! But Wait... What Is Bersatu's Fate Then?




JK Joseph
Repentant ex-banker who believes in truth, compassion and some humour.




Credit Image: Malaysiakini


Recently, Dr Mahathir was reportedly feted by PAS (including its president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang) and “proclaimed” its unofficial governance and economic advisor for the four Perikatan Nasional-ruled states of Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan and Terengganu.


In fact, according to Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar with the ex-PM on board, the four PN-bloc states can now strengthen cooperation to improve the socioeconomic level and increase the state revenue and well-being of the people there.


Ahmad Samsuri had also reportedly said that in addition to giving the PN-bloc states advice on proper governance, his role will also be to connect the four states with investors from countries like Japan and South Korea that have good ties with him.


Incidentally, after the collapse of the Pakatan Harapan government in 2020, Dr Mahathir had become somewhat of a political nomad, forming Parti Pejuang Tanah Air under which he stood in Langkawi in GE15 (and shockingly lost his deposit) and Gerakan Tanah Air aka GTA.


Going nowhere and seemingly fading into irrelevance in the local political scene, he then revived the controversial "Malay Proclamation" - purportedly to protect the interest of and unite the Malay community to "restore the political power of Malays."


Now, he has joined forces with PAS and his former arch-enemy Hadi Awang; with the latter saying that the former PM was finally returning "to the fold of his struggles". But in the midst of the fanfare where was Bersatu, their partner in PN?



In fact, undoubtedly the question that must have been quietly dogging everyone in Bersatu is - why wasn't someone like Muhyiddin Yassin or Azmin Ali roped in to help the four states in improving their economy?


After all, Muhyiddin was the Menteri Besar of Johor from 1986 to 1995. While Azmin Ali was the menteri besar of Selangor from 2014 to 2018. They were quite successful in enticing investments from abroad during their tenure and they were responsible for both the states' strong economic performance.


Or could it be that Dr Mahathir's "appointment" was merely ceremonial; to show the PAS followers that they now have one of their fiercest enemies (an ex-Umno “Goliath”) in their pocket?


As for Dr Mahathir, could he have some other agenda for joining hands with the party that has the most seats in the Malaysian parliament - and probably enjoys the most followers on TikTok? A case of "if you can't beat them, join them”? After all, what has he got to lose anymore?



Meanwhile, former Sabah chief minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak had warned Pakatan Harapan to "watch out" for Dr Mahathir and to "think ahead of him" to avoid another PN-induced political crisis.


He further warned that the ex-PM was not a leader who would make moves without an end game; especially if he could see or seize an opportunity that could benefit him politically.


But then, didn't Dr Mahathir lose his magic "Midas touch" a long time ago? Admittedly, in the first few years of his reign in the eighties - together with his able deputy Musa Hitam - there used to be a feel-good factor about him; when he opened up the economy and fast-tracked the country's industrialization plan that ushered in a breath of fresh air; and especially with the introduction of the national car, Proton. Indeed there used to be a genuine pride in being a Malaysian back then. But as it would seem, in Mahathir's hands, nothing good lasts for long!



Soon after that, his Machiavellian tendencies appeared to have taken over, resulting in one crippling crisis after another; beginning with Operasi Lalang which was a major crackdown on activists, politicians, and intellectuals with many detained without trial under the dreaded Internal Security Act; followed by the judicial crisis in 1988 and the sacking of Tun Salleh Abbas, - as a result of which of course the Malaysian judiciary system is said to have never fully recovered.


Then finally at the height of the Asian financial crisis in 1997-1998 came his most brutal show of power when he kicked out his Deputy Anwar Ibrahim - with a black eye and all!


Anyway, coming back to his so-called appointment by PAS, according to geostrategist Dr Azmi Hassan the move is rather strange as Dr Mahathir's role will definitely require plenty of communication with the federal government; now ruled by none other than his nemesis Anwar. He pointed out that (by right) it should have been someone politically neutral.



He then added that maybe it was a way for PAS to flex its muscles to prove that it could call the shots (at the expense of Bersatu?). After all, isn't it common knowledge that PN chairman Muhyiddin Yassin and Dr Mahathir are at loggerheads? Could that be the reason why Muhyiddin has been as quiet as a mouse amidst all the ruckus?


Interestingly, it took Associate Professor Dr. Awang Azman Awang Pawi from Universiti Malaya to ask the most obvious question: why did PAS appoint Dr. Mahathir instead of a figure in PN like Muhyiddin? He went on: “Do they feel Dr Mahathir is more relevant than Muhyiddin?”


True, Mahathir's foray into PN territory as an economic advisor may seem harmless on the surface. After all, is anyone (including the four state leaders) seriously expecting him to turn Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, and Terengganu into another thriving special economic zone (SEZ) like Shenzhen anytime soon? So maybe it was just a “PR exercise” by PAS and Dr Mahathir?



On the other hand, Associate Professor Dr. Awang Azman also asked: Is it that Bersatu may not bring much of a benefit to them (PAS) in the future? (Ps: Note the key word here - “future”!)


In that context, could it be a “smoke signal” discreetly sent out by PAS? Some kind of a cryptic forewarning to its PN partners viz Muhyiddin, Azmin, Hamzah, and company?


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