Reports suggest that, at the age of 94, Dr Mahathir is set to form a new political party today. The new party is said to be called Parti Bersatu Rakyat Malaysia, similar in name to his former party Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia, which recently expelled him.
Dominating the Malaysian political landscape, Dr Mahathir served as Prime Minister from 1981 to 2003. Coming out of retirement in 2018, he headed a coalition called Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) and won the elections against Najib Razak’s government, which was in power for decades. The historic victory made Mahathir the oldest elected leader in the world.
Since coming to power, the Pakatan Harapan has faced several scandals, including a compromising video of a cabinet minister engaging in sexual activities with another man. With sodomy still being illegal in Malaysia, such scandals are easily weaponised for political gain. In the past, Dr Mahathir has claimed that “LGBT rights are ‘Western’ and thus unsuitable for Malaysia”.
The coalition formed between Mahathir and his old rival Anwar Ibrahim was uneasy, given that the power-sharing mechanisms were not clearly defined. Malaysian politics are characterised by ethnic issues, and fears arose that the Pakatan coalition, with a large ethnic Chinese base, would not cater to Malay sentiments. Public disenchantment with Mahathir’s government grew as it failed to implement progressive reforms even after being two years in power.
In a dramatic turn of events, Mahathir resigned in February this year as tensions within the coalition intensified. While it was still unclear who would head the government, more upheavals ensued, with Mahathir being usurped within his own party. Shocking many, ex-interior minister Muhyiddin Yassin was sworn in as Prime Minister by the King. The Malay Palace stated, “The process to appoint the prime minister cannot be delayed because the country needs a government for the well-being of the people and the nation.” Described as a conservative Malay nationalist, Yassin is said to have convinced the King that he had the majority support of 222 parliamentarians. Mahathir and others questioned this claim and called for a vote of confidence in May. However, the parliamentary proceedings concerning Yassin’s legitimacy were restricted to an address by King Abdullah. This prompted further questions on the new Prime Minister’s legitimacy, with Mahathir stating that “democracy is dead.”
Furthermore, Yassin’s government has been criticised for his opaque handling of the Covid-19 situation. The United Nations voiced its concern and called on Malaysia to end its “ongoing crackdown on migrants, journalists and civil society in the context of the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and strongly oppose xenophobia and hate speech against migrants”.
Piya Raj Sukhani, an analyst at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, explains how “Muhyiddin’s Government remains neither endorsed in Parliament, nor democratically mandated by the electorate” and how this bodes as a disturbing trend for Malaysian democracy. Having been expelled by Yassin, Mahathir does not appear to be backing down and the launch of his new party showcases his intention to remain in politics.
94-Year-Old Former Malaysian PM Mahathir Set to Form New Political Party
Following his expulsion from his previous party, Mahathir is set to launch his own party.
August 7, 2020
Former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad SOURCE: BERNAMA FILE PHOTO