Tun M ‘will do anything to achieve his objectives’
ALOR STAR: Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad is now on “survival mode” as his plans to topple the ruling Barisan Nasional government are falling apart.
United Pasokmomogun Kadazandusun Murut Organisation (Upko) information chief Albert Bingkasan said this was because Dr Mahathir and his allies in the opposition were selfish.
He was responding to Pas president Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s political secretary Dr Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar’s claim that Dr Mahathir had only turned to DAP for help after he was spurned by Pas.
“The opposition parties are made up of disgruntled leaders and those who are bent on holding onto their own interests without any regard for others.
“These U-turns by Dr Mahathir are not a surprise.
“He tried to break Barisan Nasional from within but failed.
“He then moved on to work with people who were seen as his enemies.
“This loose coalition will not last, unlike BN, which has endured many challenges in the past,” Bingkasan told the New Straits Times yesterday.
Dr Samsuri yesterday said Dr Mahathir held a meeting with Hadi, during which he complained about Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and described DAP as a “chauvinist party”.
However, several months later, Dr Mahathir joined forces with his enemy, DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang.
Dr Mahathir’s Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (PPBM) is now part of the Pakatan Harapan coalition, which is made up of DAP, PKR and Pas offshoot Parti Amanah Negara.
Former DAP vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim, meanwhile, described Dr Mahathir as a “desperate man” who would take any opportunity to achieve his objective.
“That is the true measure of Dr Mahathir. In his desperation, he will try anything, whether it is moral or immoral. To him, politics is the art of the possible, and he is quite happy to use any means as long as it gets him what he wants,” he said.
Universiti Malaya political analyst Dr Awang Azman Awang Pawi described Dr Mahathir as a “real politician” who would do whatever it took to achieve his goal.
He said Dr Mahathir’s alleged action proved that the longestserving prime minister was following the principle of “the end justifies the means”.
“Dr Mahathir’s undecided stance is expected because he acts based on events and necessity simply because he wants to achieve his political aim,” he said yesterday.
In Padang Besar, Lim yesterday declined to comment on the matter, saying it was Pas’s internal issue.
Lim was there to announce DAP’s candidates in Perlis for the next general election.