Mahathir is back

This week, the reelection of Vladimir Putin, 65, as President of Russia wasn’t much of a surprise. What caught more attention was the return of Mahathir Mohamad to the seat of power 15 years after retirement.

What makes it amazing is that the 92-yearold politician stood as leader of the opposition that ousted United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the ruling party he once led.

During the 22 years (from 1981-2003) that he was Prime Minister, Mahathir turned Malaysia from an agriculture-dependent state to a robust economic powerhouse, with the Petronas Towers as a symbol of its ascendance.

While he brought Malaysia to its golden economic era, Mahathir cemented his power grip through the Internal Security Act that allowed him to imprison those who criticized his rule. This included Anwar Ibrahim, his deputy prime minister who turned opposition leader.

Mahathir became an outspoken promoter of Third World development but he failed to earn the sympathy of the West and the international media. He was accused of nepotism and corruption, but these charges did not seem to affect his popularity among ethnic Malaysians.

When people thought that Mahathir would simply fade away, he remained relevant in Malaysian politics, paving the way for his successors, including outgoing Prime Minister Najib Razak, whose father Mahathir once served and succeeded.

Two factors were going for Mahathir: Razak was hounded by charges of corruption and he (Mahathir) continued to have grassroots support.

The biggest winner, though, in the election is not Mahathir. It is the opposition party, Pakatan Harapan. If the blueprint of the party will be followed, then Wan Azizah Ismail, the wife of Anwar Ibrahim, will become the deputy prime minister.

As proposed by Pakatan Harapan, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, the wife of Anwar Ibrahim, will run as his deputy, thus becoming the first female deputy prime minister in Malaysia.

If Mahathir will keep his word, he will work for Anwar Ibrahim to be given full pardon so he can someday still become prime minister.

Age has softened Mahatmir. He has become a realist, “If people remember, (me) well and good. If they don’t remember, it’s alright, I’m dead anyway.”

Still the people of Malaysia have cast their lot with Mahathir, hoping that their country will regain the prosperity and good standing it once had among the family of nations.