Mahathir, You Are No Hero For UMNO Either

The recent revelations by Zahid Hamidi, acknowledging his involvement as the architect behind the Langkah Sheraton incident, have reignited discussions about Malaysia's turbulent political landscape. However, while Zahid's role in orchestrating this political manoeuvre is deserving of disgust, it is equally important to examine the actions of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, whose decisions also played a crucial role in setting the stage for the crisis that unfolded.

While Malaysian politics have always had the air of a daytime drama, the run up to GE14 was truly a time that could be adapted into a limited series on a streaming service. In 2016, in a surprising turn of events, Mahathir Mohamad resigned from UMNO and established a new party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu), alongside his son Mukhriz and current Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin. In an unexpected alliance, he joined forces with the opposition led by Anwar Ibrahim, a figure he had previously repressed during his tenure. Anwar, the leader of the Reformasi movement, had been dismissed from Mahathir’s government in 1998 and subsequently imprisoned on charges of corruption and sodomy until 2004.

The alliance between Mahathir and Anwar in 2016 shocked many, especially given the backdrop of Malaysia’s government being embroiled in the 1MDB scandal, one of the world’s largest financial scandals, implicating top leaders including then-Prime Minister Najib Razak. Seizing the moment, Mahathir rebranded himself as a political savior with a democratic agenda, aiming to rescue Malaysia from what he termed “Najib’s kleptocracy.”

Mahathir pledged that, if victorious, he would secure the release of Anwar, who had been imprisoned again on new sodomy charges since 2015. This pact between the two former adversaries included Mahathir’s promise to transfer power to Anwar within a few years, marking a dramatic shift in Malaysia’s political landscape.

While he fulfilled the promise to secure the release of Anwar, he arguably dragged his feet in ensuring the transfer of power - often moving the timeline, utilising the excuse that he needed more time to fix the country.

This for the average Malaysian meant that this was a return to outdated “Mahathirnomics”, but for the Malay particular class in particular, it meant the restablishment of Mahathir-led Malay political institutions.

Mahathir’s involvement in the Langkah Sheraton incident cannot be overlooked. His decision to engage in discussions with Zahid regarding the future of UMNO, along with his suggestion that the party should be disbanded after its defeat in the 14th general election, were pivotal moments that laid the groundwork for the subsequent political turmoil. These moves reflected Mahathir’s long-standing desire to consolidate power and ensure that Malay leadership remained firmly under his influence. His actions were arguably driven by a belief that he, as the leader, should guide the Malays, whether through persuasion or by exerting pressure.

This pattern of behavior is not new for Mahathir. Throughout his political career, he has demonstrated a willingness to perform “scorched earth” tactics to maintain control and reshape the political landscape to his advantage. One of the most significant examples of this was the formation of UMNO Baru in 1988. Following the deregistration of the original UMNO, Mahathir swiftly moved to create a new party, effectively sidelining his political rivals and ensuring that the leadership of UMNO remained under his command. This historical precedent underscores a consistent approach in Mahathir’s political manoeuvres—prioritising personal power over broader political stability.

Yet, the Langkah Sheraton incident marked a turning point in Mahathir’s efforts to dominate the political narrative, the immortal words of Mark Twain come to mind, “clever clever squirrel jump, one day fall to the ground also”. By creating an environment where political loyalty was fluid and alliances were fragile, he inadvertently sowed the seeds of his own downfall. Zahid, recognizing an opportunity for his survival, conspired with others to undermine Mahathir’s position. This incident and the ultimate betrayal by those within his inner circle after Langkah Sheraton underscores the volatile nature of political alliances and the inherent risks of attempting to maintain absolute control.

In conclusion, while Zahid’s actions during the Langkah Sheraton incident are certainly condemnable, it is essential to acknowledge Mahathir’s role in creating the conditions that led to this political upheaval. His attempts to dominate and control the political narrative ultimately resulted in a significant shift in Malaysia’s political landscape - ultimately to the detriment of the everyday Malaysians.

So while Mahathir can argue that Zahid is not the hero of UMNO all he wants, we all know that given the political instability that followed his second term in office, neither is he.