6 months

6 months!

He could have waited for Ghafar Baba to retire, an old man, a member of Tunku’s original UMNO pioneers.

Yes, Ghafar Baba was only a standard six trained teacher, not like Asia’s greatest intellectual who uses words like ‘Kafkaesque’ (wakakaka), but then, was it worth the unnecessary humiliation of an old man? And to use a massive RM200 million to do so?

It seems that after Ghafar's defeat and loss of his UMNO deputy presidency, while a jubilant faction crowed sweet rejoice, Ghafar found himself alone in one of the halls of the UMNO building, wandering around in a daze with a plastic shopping bag on one of his hands.

Just a mere 6 months before Ghafar Baba was to retire anyway.

6 months!

He could have waited for Dr Mahathir to retire, a man who had already anointed him as the heir to the PM’s position.

Yes, Dr Mahathir might have been a medical doctor and undoubtedly an Asian intellectual but he had never used words like ‘Kafkaesque’ (wakakaka), but then, was it worth the unnecessary betrayal of a mentor. And to use a massive RM445 million plot to do so?

Alas, unlike the crushing of his earlier opponent, the aged standard six trained teacher Ghafar Baba, his opponent Dr Mahathir saw to it he lost his position as UMNO deputy president and DPM Malaysia.

Unlike a dazed Ghafar Baba who found himself alone in one of the halls of the UMNO building, wandering around in a daze with a plastic bag on one of his hands, he went to prison.

Just a mere 6 months before Dr Mahathir was to retire anyway.

And between March 2008 and 916, just a mere 6 months. Coincidence?

If only he had practised manmanlai for a mere 6 months.

6 months! 6 months! 6 months!