DR MAHATHIR’S CLAIM
KUCHING: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s claim that his supporters did not want him to retire from active politics is just an excuse to justify his actions in not quitting politics.
A senior fellow of National Council of Professors (MPN), Dr Jeniri Amir said the former premier should be able to make his own decision.
“As a leader and a statesman, Dr Mahathir should be able to make his own decision without being influenced by others especially his supporters.”
Considering his present age, Jeniri said Dr Mahathir should call it quits in his political journey and give space for others to soldier on with his struggles.
“As I see it, Dr M is power crazy. He thinks there’s no one else but him alone as the best and most righteous person to lead the country while others simply cannot match his ability,” he added in an interview with Singapore’s Malay tabloid Berita Harian.
Jeniri, who is also a former senior lecturer with Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), said the problem with Dr Mahathir was his obsession of power because he thought too highly of himself and this rendered him to not knowing when to end his political career.
“It is not Dr Mahathir’s first rodeo in making about-turns or changing his stance, as he often does,” he said.
Jeniri said Dr Mahathir was actually no longer relevant in Malaysian politics though he (DR Mahathir) often thinks otherwise – that without him, the country would be ruined.
“He is trapped in a time capsule thinking that he is still well-received such as during his first round as prime minister from 1981 to 2003 when in fact, the political landscape and scenario have changed.
“Young people will not support him, a party led by a man who is (almost) a 100 years old. If young leaders such as Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman (Muar MP) do not support Tun, this means that the former Minister of Youth and Sports himself is not confident in Tun’s leadership, including in terms of garnering support from young people. Probably, that’s why Syed Saddiq set up Muda (Malaysian United Democratic Alliance) party, focusing on the younger generation.”
Jeniri said Dr Mahathir’s ever-changing stance not only tarnished his reputation, but also severely eroded his credibility.
On the establishment of Parti Pejuang Tanah Air (Pejuang), he emphasised that not many of Mahathir’s former Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) allies had joined him including Syed Saddiq – indicating the lack of confidence among young leaders towards his leadership and the future of Pejuang.
“The weakness of the party is that it has no other figures other than Tun, apart from not having strong and comprehensive grassroots machinery. Pejuang has no direct influence in Sabah and Sarawak, because the people no longer believe in Tun,” he explained.
