Save Malaysia again - this time from Mahathir!

The word “save” is becoming very popular among politicians these days whenever the country appears to be in danger of veering off course.

It is as if the word possesses some magical quality that the very mention of it is enough to prod people into action to get the country back on track.

And so it was in 2018, when an older man by the name of Dr Mahathir Mohamad sounded the clarion call to save Malaysia from Umno rule.

The former longest-serving prime minister launched the campaign to get rid of then Prime Minister Najib Razak who was accused of “corruption, mismanaging the economy and authoritarianism” during the 2018 general election campaign.

Mahathir got his wish: Najib was ousted and the older politician, still full of steam, took over the reins of power to serve a second term in office. He ardently believed the country was saved. The word had cast a sort of magic spell on the voters who came out in droves to end the six-decades-long rule of Umno and its partners in the Barisan Nasional coalition.

But the nonagenarian didn’t last long. He was soon toppled by his own allies in Pakatan Harapan, and Mahiaddin Yasin of Bersatu came through the “back door” to form the next government.

But Mahiaddin was himself shown the door because he did not have the two-thirds’ majority to save his rule.

Then came Ismail Sabri Yaakob who filled the vacancy. Unfortunately for him, he stayed in Putrajaya for only one year (2021-2022). He did not have the time to save anything!

A snap general election was called in 2022, which resulted in a hung parliament.

Amid the political crisis emerged Anwar Ibrahim who was named as PM following a meeting of the Malay rulers. It can be said that the rulers saved him from political oblivion.

Anwar? Oh, no! Mahathir, who once said Anwar could never become prime minister, was fuming mad at his nemesis sitting now at the pinnacle of power.

The older man is still begrudging Anwar his rise to political stardom. He cannot keep quiet but must always take potshots at him and his reforms at every opportunity he gets.

And now he sees a golden opportunity to challenge Anwar in the wake of sexual assault allegations reportedly made against the prime minister by his former aide.

That’s it. There is a real chance Mahathir can do it again and presumably return to Putrajaya at an overripe age of 100.

So, what weapon to use this time? No problem, he has already got one – the old, battle-tested word “save”.

So he has launched yet another campaign to “Save Malays” – not Malaysia – from Anwar, whom he perceives is not doing enough to protect the political dominance of the race.

Mind you, he has opened a big beach “payung” (umbrella) to bring all parties under its shade, including Umno, in one supreme struggle to save the Malays.

Mahathir casts himself as a dedicated fighter who can champion the cause of his race by harping on racial issues.

For sure, the ethnic minorities will not huddle under his umbrella! They would would prefer to be drenched in the inclement weather rather than participate in Mahathir’s final struggle.

The veteran politician believes by invoking the magic word save, the Malays will readily rush to his side. The implication here is that their very future would be at stake if they let political power slip into the hands of the ethnic minorities.

Political power is a touchy issue, and Mahathir appears to be exploiting it to the hilt to derail PH in the next general election. This is one issue that can get many Malays all riled up.

If only he could get his hands on Anwar! How he hopes to see his political rival put behind bars again or to see old cases revived to seal his political career once and for all.

But if Mahathir were to put his ears to the ground, he would hear a rumble that is getting louder with each passing moment.

What is this rolling thunder? It is the people speaking and using the same magic word: Save Malaysia again – from Mahathir!

Phlip Rodrigues is a retired journalist.