How are the mighty fallen

MM Online - Selangor Sultan consents to Dr M, Dr Siti Hasmah’s decision to return royal awards (extracts):

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 ― Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah has consented to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Tun Dr Siti Hasmah’s decision to return the awards they had previously received from the Selangor palace.

In a statement issued by the Selangor palace today, the cancellation of the awards will be gazetted according to due procedure.

“It is informed that His Royal Highness Sultan Selangor has consented to the return of medals of honours and titles by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Dr Siti Hasmah without any objection,” the short statement read.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir['s] ... decision to return the awards came shortly after the ruler publicly expressed his dissatisfaction with Dr Mahathir over the latter’s comments about Bugis people being “pirates”.

In many ways it's quite sad to see this proud old man brought to the nadir of his life achievements (or non achievements).

His last defiant gesture, stemming from his über hubris nursed, nurtured & nourished over decades of obsequious fawning & toadying, saw him returned his high awards in caustic but sorrowful merajuk-ness, but in doing so he merely added on to the insults to HRH Sultan Selangor after the indiscrete 'bugis are pirates' faux pas.

At his peak he was the most powerful man in Malaysia, second to none where he could even silence the royals. The nation's assets, resources and direction were at his complete disposal to do as he wished, wanted and willed. He could even incarcerate and reward many and pardon a few.

Now, to achieve his sunset dreams, he is forced to ally himself with people he once detested.

"O daughters of Malaysia, weep over Mahathir, Who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet, Who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Mahathir, thou wast slain in thine high places.

(with apologies to) - 2 Samuel 1:24-25

Investigated for alleged losses by Bank Negara to the tune of RM30.5 Billion in a scandal called the FOREX Losses, I wonder how low can he be still brought down to?

Maminco? Memali? Perwaja? MAS? and so on so forth.

Much as I have been annoyed by his abuses, bullying and arrogance, I feel sad to see a very proud old man brought to his knees, as his enemies gather around him like sharks sensing his bleeding blood and bleeding pride.

Et tu Brute, he seems to cry out, but all he receives have been sniggers from men in red. That must have surely added salt to his multiple injuries.

Some old men retire with glory, some like Mahathir seem to do otherwise.

Inshaallah.