POLITICAL SPIN Mahathir Hadi's Brilliant Idea - Episode 1

POLITICAL SPIN Mahathir Hadi's Brilliant Idea - Episode 1


5 Jan 2026 • 6:00 PM MYT


Santhira Morgan
Santhira Morgan is the writer, director & producer of Serious Comedy Studio

https://copilot.microsoft.com/chats/e8qrnLQfK6rHVXjDoG9Nq Some politicians enter politics and see many ‘lubangs.’


POLITICAL SPINS


This is a FICTION based on the political situation in Malaysia. The main characters do not reflect anyone living or dead and if they do, it would be a mere coincidence. This piece is for comedic entertainment only.


Mahathir Hadi’s Brilliant Idea – Episode 1


Mahathir Hadi is a fresh university graduate. He just started working as a lawyer at a reputable legal firm. After a hard day’s work he went to his favourite Mamak stall for dinner. He ordered 2 Roti Canais and a Teh Tarik. After having them he was browsing through his phone. Something caught his attention. He was totally engrossed in it. He scrolled the screen with his forefinger slowly. He kept his phone down and went into deep thoughts. His chin was resting on his right thumb with his fingers folded down while his forefinger was tapping his cheek. His eyes were staring penetratingly at the fan above the table in-front of him. Then, he took his phone and made two phone calls. The calls were short. It appeared as though he called two friends over. But instead of waiting there, he paid his bills and left.


Back in his room, he was early waiting for the arrival of his two friends. Lim Kuan Yin and Kappal Samy arrived in a hurry.


Samy: Mahathir, what’s up brader.


Lim: You’d better make sure your idea’s good.


Mahathir: Now, let’s take a deep breath. In….and out….. In…..and out….Now relax.


Lim: Apa ini, drama RTM, TV3, TV9 or Netflix?


Mahathir: No, I called you both to do some sharing.


Lim: Sharing?


Samy: About what?


Mahathir: About our future. We have to plan our future. Let me ask you. How much do you make as a new Engineer?


Lim: About 4K


Mahathir: How about you accountant?


Samy: Close to 4K.


Mahathir: As a brand new lawyer, I only get about 1 thousand five. It took me years to be here. How long did it take you to finish your studies?


Lim: (shows four finger)


Samy: 4 as well


Mahathir: Plus your allowances, how much do you take home?


Lim: Overtime and allowance, can take home slightly close to 5K.


Samy: I take home about 5.5K


Mahathir: How much is your yearly increment?


Samy: About 150-200


Lim: Mine is better. 300


Mahathir: Have you ever considered politics.


Samy: Politics! You must be out of your mind. No way.


Lim: Shit wasted my time coming here.


Mahathir: Ok, just answer this one question. Is a politician’s job difficult?


Samy: What’s so difficult. Attend events, free makan here. Free makan there. Always in the limelight, shake hands with strangers, selfie and then go home and sleep.


Lim: The next day, get up, attend meeting or parliament. Talk cock, show you are a champion. If tired take a nap in Parliament. What’s so difficult.


Mahathir: I agree with you. I totally agree. So, it’s easy, right? You know how much they earn. Here, look at this. Member of Parliament Salary, (Dewan Rakyat): RM16,000 per month. That is just the basic salary. How much do you take home now? About 5K? I only take how about 2K per month. Let’s look at the allowances they get.


Entertainment allowance: RM2,500 per month. That’s more than my salary. Entertainment. You know what it means, it means having a nice time, listening to music, dancing, thaniing etc.


Special payment for non-administrative work RM1,500 per month


Lim: What does it mean, non-Administrative work?


Mahathir: I don’t know but it sounds good. It’s motivating.


Samy: Yes, never mind, we can find that out later. You carry on.


Mahathir: Fixed travel allowance: RM1,500 per month. Even if you sleep at home, you will get this.


Fuel allowance: RM1,500 per month. Now, both of you tell me. Does your company pay you to get to the office?


Samy and Lim: No.


Mahathir: Look if you are elected, you get 1.5k fuel allowance. Let me carry on. Driver allowance, RM1,500 per month. So far good, right? Look here. Parliamentary sitting attendance: RM400 per day. Nia mah, go there, sleep, talk cock, shout, or just keep quiet, you get paid 400 per day.


Samy: They get so much!


Mahathir: I’m not done yet. Listen, government agency meetings/ workshops attendance: RM300 per day, don’t forget free 5-star food.


Toll allowance, RM300 per month. Handphone purchase, up to RM2,000 every two years


See your company pays you, around 5K and out of the 5K, you have to pay for your petrol, toll, buy a phone and what not. You have to subsidize the company you are working for. Here you are paid for everything. Listen to this, Phone bill allowance, RM900 per month. Look my phone bill is about RM50 per month. Purchase of computer, up to RM6,000. Black-tie attire subsidy, RM1,000 every three years. Ceremonial attire allowance, Up to RM1,500. Warm clothing allowance. You buy underwear also can claim. You need to keep your brother warm and cosy inside. Next, free vehicle license


Lim: Free vehicle license? Does it mean that we get free driving license?


Mahathir: I’m not sure. Never mind, itu belakang kira. So far so GOOD, right? Here some more. Listen. Official trips – Business class air travel, First-class rail travel, Domestic duties exceeding 32km from home, Hotel allowance up to RM400 a night. Now KL to Putrajaya is about 40 plus km. Can claim RM400. Just attend meeting and go home.


Daily stipend during business trips, Domestic – RM100 a night/ International – RM170 a night. Food allowance when overseas, RM340 a night. Imagine going to Thailand or Indonesia and you get 340 per night for food. Even Singapore RM150 is more than enough. First-class single-room ward in government hospitals: Free


Now tell me, isn’t this a good deal for someone who shakes hands with strangers, poses for selfies, attends meetings, talks cock and takes a nap in Parliament?


Lim: Shit, I didn’t know this.


Samy: But my friend, you have to be highly qualified for the job.


Mahathir: NO! No legal requirement for MPs to hold specific academic qualification. The former Deputy Prime Minister, the late Tun Datuk Seri Utama Abdul Ghafar Baba, had a Teaching Certificate. It was reported in Malaysia World News (Online), that the former Defence Minister, Mohamad Sabu admitted that he has no higher education certificate. According to Article 47 of the Malaysian Constitution, one must be a Malaysian and at least 18 years old, that’s all.


Lim: SPM good enough?


Mahathir: Yes, but the higher your qualification, the better. Nowadays, minimum a degree. It is not a must, though. But this fellow. What’s his name…(thinks…) Pra…Pra…Prabakaran Parameswaran was still a law student when he contested the Batu parliamentary seat.


Lim: You’ve got PhD also sometimes you become a laughing stock…Remember the young lady…She had to pay hundreds of thousands in damages….


Samy: Let me tell you in a better way. Some politicians have brains. In the Left side, nothing is Right. And in the Right side, nothing is Left.


Mahathir: I think we have a lot in both the right and left.


Samy: There is space for more. Look, all of us have finished our degrees. Now it’s time to make some money.


Mahathir: No, it’s time we serve the public.


(Samy and Lim look at Mahathir and each other – they all burst into laughter.)


Lim: It’s time to serve the public.


Mahathir: A Kerajaan of the rakyat, by the rakyat, for the rakyat shall not perish in Malaysia.


(They clap and cheer)


END OF EPISODE 1. What’s their next move? Wait for Episode 2